Another post on the topic of ethnic or racial purity. When I get someone who tells me that they are "pure Scot" I think, big deal -- all that means is that you are a mix of Gaelic, Pictish, Norse, and Anglo-Saxon. How is that "pure?"

Now all of my own ancestors I have been able to trace back have been from either Scotland, England, or Ireland. I consider that to be pretty "pure" for a family that has been in the US for over 200 years. But so what? My wife's heritage is Irish, German, and French on her dad's side and Lebanese by way of Colombia on her mother's side. My kids have all that running through their veins -- but to look at them they all look Swedish!

Anyway, what does it all matter? We like to think of America as this great big melting pot where the ethnic groups mix. But we are not so unique, you have a certain degree of this in all countries. What ethnic group do you identify with, then, when you have all these different possibilities? Well, whatever you choose to, really. All of my wife's mother's family is hispanic. Does she consider herself hispanic? No. Not only does she not look hispanic, she doesn't speak the language very well, and since her father is not hispanic, she grew up in a very "American" household. She just doesn't identify herself that way.

A lot of people here in the states with just a little bit of Scottish blood will claim that as their ethnic identity. Why? Because Scottish culture is so colorful. As I said, I also have English and Irish heritage, which I am proud of. But I most readily identify with my Scottish heritage. There is just so much more to the culture. I can wear the kilt, I can go to the Highland Games, I can celebrate Burns Night, I can join the St. Andrews Society, etc. What do I do to celebrate my English heritage, drink warm beer? (That was said tongue-in-cheek, lest I get any angry letters from Englishmen!)

Simply put, the Scots are more colorful, and should take some pride in the fact that people with only a drop of Scottish blood want to identify with them. Besides, as I tell people, it's not whether you have Scottish blood, its whether you have a Scottish heart.

I have another story about Scots-Cherokee intermarriage, but that will have to wait for another post!
Matt