Anniversary Update

**tripleblessed** · 12th September 22, 02:08 PM

Opinions will vary on whether to wear kilts or not. Some feel they are inappropriate (for the most part) outside the Scottish Highlands. I grew up in rural south Georgia, where virtually everyone has at least some Scots heritage. Oglethorpe, having no funds for troops, and knowing that Spain would resist British expansion southward, requested assistance from highland lairds he knew residing in London. That assistance resulted in the raising of a body of highland Scots willing to risk life and limb for progeny. With no hope of land ownership there, they were willing to risk all in exchange for land here. Their own land. Not a charter of use, but deed of ownership. Numbers vary with reports,
but probably north of 400 men felt that what happened to them was irrelevant; their children and grandchildren would OWN land. Four years down the road, about half had been lost, but the Spanish gave up the resistance. The names on the graves across the south Georgia landscape proves the truth of their logic and their successful efforts. Their kilts were not confiscated at the docks leaving Scotland, and their dedication to the success of this country bought their descendants a fair modicum of freedom of choice. Scots soldiers have left progeny and pipe bands across the globe. Some might say this gives the "right" to wear the kilt. I wouldn't know. My paychecks for serving as President/Prime Minister of the universe have mysteriously been few and far between lately, so I am abdicating the burden of making decisions for everyone else, and my exit fiat is that all may make their own choices at their own risk.

I personally wear kilts as matter of comfort. I lead bluegrass jams or perform three or four times a week, and almost always in a kilt. Well received almost universally,
and many pleasant conversations engendered. Other world-shaking events such as grocery shopping or trips to the hardware store might also be kilted. For roofing,
or for walking steel to hang lights and concert rigs, I prefer my lower legs be covered, both for protecting my skin and the eyes of the observers.

The point of my post is that the more you wear one, the more comfortable you are in them, and the more they look and feel as though you "belong" in them. Others will tend to agree. I often get positive comment from unexpected sources; you will, too.

**TNScotsman** · 12th September 22, 02:17 PM

Thanks for the history lesson about Scots in South Georgia. I'm quite familiar with the story of Scots in Appalachia, but even though I'm in South Georgia on the coast 3-4 times a year I'd never heard this history about Oglethorpe raising a small army of Scotsmen.

While my kilt-wearing is usually connected to events where such attire is relatively expected, I have to agree that in many circumstances a kilt is just downright comfortable!