Devil's Advocate!

[Kilts_Knave]

My pipemajor is from Scotland. He is about 50-ish, I suppose, and he has the exact opposite view from yours.

While talking about kilts and wearing them, I mentioned I had a kilt I wear to church on occassion. He said something to the effect of, "Well, kilt-wearing is rather like you wearing jeans, I grew up in them. And I wear jeans now." He said the whole thing should be taken toungue-in-cheek and that no Scotsmen ever take this sort of thing seriously! Certainly this Scottish person is unaware of any clans-ish attitude.

In fact, he spoke of when he was accosted by a drunkard in Key West, where the band was playing in the parade. During the performance (this was at Fantasy Fest and, if you are familiar with it, you will understand), a young man came and got into his face (while he is blowing reedcap in mouth, mind you) screaming that he is disrespecting the uniform, and how dare he, and so on and so forth.

[It takes all kinds (especially in Key West), but the unmitigated gall!]

I told him perhaps it was the Mackenzie tartan (which the band wears) at which the young man objected. I told him I had learned some American Mackenzies get pretty picky about who wears their tartan. He just shrugged and said, "Maybe; we got our [uniforms] cheap," and we continued on with our lesson.

[Archangel]

Well, James, thanks for the bio. I was wondering about your military experience and I'm glad you're so devoted to your heritage. You do sound a bit, as you put it the other day, colonial but I'm sure that will all unfold.
My Edinburgh, Kirkaldy, birth and upbringing was more in line with kilt_nave's experience, military and all, but, hey, there you go.