The Tartan Police!

[macwilkin]

I feel that the so called kilt police who insist that kilts can never evlove are similar to those people who would have Tiger Woods using wooden heads and shafts instead of steel or Composite with Titanium heads, to drive Old Tom Morris' Feathery ball 170 yards instead of hitting the modern balls 350 yards.

I am no golfer by any means, but what about someone that prefers wooden heads & shafts for his golf clubs? Someone who likes the "old"? Someone who doesn't feel that everyone should conform to his way of thinking, but on the same token, feels that he should be left to make up his own mind about what kind of club he wants to play with?

I think the majority of "traditionalists" here share this attitude: whilst we have own ideas & opinions (as everyone else does) about kilts & kilt-wearing, I know I believe that these are what's right for me, and I would not dare force them on someone else -- when asked, I will certainly give my opinion (for what it's worth), but if someone asks me to respect their "modern" kilt or their personal style, I certainly would hope for the same in return.

Regards,

Todd

[Dreadbelly]

Instead of all this bouncing back and forth about what tradition is... Why not define it?

Where does tradition begin and end? The Great Kilt? Oh wait, most people don't wear that as a day to day garmet. Not practical. Nope, that's kept in the closet and largely viewed as costume or for "special occasions."

Some of the more modern versions of the kilt have become traditional simply because they are more practical, right? I mean, I could be wrong here, but isn't that what it boils down to?

Tradition compared to what? The more I read about my family's history, the less I even see of kilt wearing. Dirty landless vegabonds. Thieves driven by situation and circumstance. Warriors. I am fairly certain that not to many folk in my family wore Prince Charlies and eight yard traditional tanks. I am betting that somewhere up the line, somebody might have wore a kilt, but I bet it was a filthy rag of some scrap of tartan, loosely bound about the waist as a great kilt. I bet they were dirty and bare foot... Or wearing clogs or crude moccasins. From the sounds of it... They were more particular about their weapons than their clothing, at least my family. I can see "tradition" there. In all their poverty, in all their shining proud accomplishments, in every moment of their lives it seems that folk, at least in my family, always kept a good weapon close at hand or used whatever might be handy. But it is a common theme I see in my family history... Is that tradition? It seems to me that I could be wearing any old rag... But as long as I have some sort of weapon tucked away in the folds I would be doing more to pay tribute to "tradition" than I would nitpicking over detail of dress.

I dunno. But it's got me thinking.

[macwilkin]

Instead of all this bouncing back and forth about what tradition is... Why not define it?

Where does tradition begin and end? The Great Kilt? Oh wait, most people don't wear that as a day to day garmet. Not practical. Nope, that's kept in the closet and largely viewed as costume or for "special occasions."

Some of the more modern versions of the kilt have become traditional simply because they are more practical, right? I mean, I could be wrong here, but isn't that what it boils down to?

Tradition compared to what? The more I read about my family's history, the less I even see of kilt wearing. Dirty landless vegabonds. Thieves driven by situation and circumstance. Warriors. I am fairly certain that not to many folk in my family wore Prince Charlies and eight yard traditional tanks. I am betting that somewhere up the line, somebody might have wore a kilt, but I bet it was a filthy rag of some scrap of tartan, loosely bound about the waist as a great kilt. I bet they were dirty and bare foot... Or wearing clogs or crude moccasins. From the sounds of it... They were more particular about their weapons than their clothing, at least my family. I can see "tradition" there. In all their poverty, in all their shining proud accomplishments, in every moment of their lives it seems that folk, at least in my family, always kept a good weapon close at hand or used whatever might be handy. But it is a common theme I see in my family history... Is that tradition? It seems to me that I could be wearing any old rag... But as long as I have some sort of weapon tucked away in the folds I would be doing more to pay tribute to "tradition" than I would nitpicking over detail of dress.

I dunno. But it's got me thinking.

I think you're missing my point again.

As a historian, I recognise the fact that the kilt, like many other garments, has evolved over time. I recognise that many of these changes have been for a practical reason. I also recognise that many of the "traditions" we associate with Highland attire really aren't that old & that some are not even based in fact. If you look through my posts you will see that I do not support all "traditions" in Highland attire, but on the whole, I consider myself a "traditionalist" when comes to my kilt.

For me, the kilt is a tanigble symbol of my heritage, so I want to display my pride in my Scots ancestors who left their home and moved to Canada & the United States. It's no different for me when I wear my National Park Service uniform, or a reproduction Civil War or Spanish-American War uniform, or my attire when I'm working at the library or attending church. I like the "pride of place". That's right for me, it may not be right for others. That's fine. We're all Jock Tamson's Bairns, after all.

All I am asking for is the same respect that others ask of me.

Regards,

Todd

[Jerry]

I'm not saying that you or others are wrong by wanting to only go with traditional kilts, or in my example to use the antique golf equipment. I am saying that both are right. We can "choose" whatever we want for ourselves. Where we (including myself) go wrong is to say that evolvement and change is wrong. It's not wrong, just different. As I said, so far, I have only traditional styled tartan kilts. The solids which I have seen are also very traditional looking, with the three belts and buckles instead of snaps hooks or even velcro fasteners. While I personally like The "utilikilt look" fot myself, I don't see anything wrong with them for someone else.