Devil's Advocate!

[Dreadbelly]

James wrote:


Now wouldn't that be a crashing bore!!!!!!!!!

James also wrote:


James,

I'm of the opinion that conversation without a bit of disagreement is as entertaining as rice soup with no salt or spices. Besides, if you retire as Devil's Advocate, I'll have to take on the job and I just have too many things going on to take yet another job!

I am not sure if I am the Devil's advocate, but there have been many times where I have been accused of being the Devil himself.

[bubba]

James, please do continue expressing your viewpoint and playing devils advocate. It's good for us the read other opinions than our own.

[Macman]

James, I also thought the comment about you playing the devil's advocate was intended as a compliment. I have enjoyed reading your views, whether contrary or not !

Archangel, my mother's dad was born in Leith and lived in Kirkaldy before moving to Canada. His surname was Oliphant - now there's a nice tartan!

[An t-Ileach]

A Sheumais,

Well, Devil's Advocate, If you're referring to the "Bravura" thread, I must say that I agreed with you. I was going to post something supportive, but I got side-tracked.

The clansmen were warrior farmers or warrior fishermen, and "nice" and "not nice" depending on who they were dealing with; but they were in any case hard men (and women) coming from a hard environment - especially after the progressive destruction of their economy from the 16th Century onwards. The film "Rob Roy" gave a fair insight into the life.

An historian friend of mine, James Dickie, tells that the British learned how to "deal" with tribal peoples by fighting the clansmen of Scotland. You drew a parallel with the Frontier - it's hardly surprising therefore that the Highlanders serving in India (even in the "civil") identified more with the hillmen than the plainsmen - Pathans, Baluchis, Gurkhas, etc.

I think that it is essential to look back to where we came from - and the source of the kilts and their furniture - in order to draw inspriation for our modern expressions of them. As the saying goes cuimhnich air na daoine a dh'thainig thu ("remember the men from whom you came").

It's great that the kilt is being adopted as effectively the national dress of Scotland - even if very unhistorically in many cases - and that more and more people are wearing it (even the filleadh mor) in everyday life, even down south among the Sassanachs.

So, if you feal that you've become the Forums "Devil's Advocate" I can say that you'll not be lacking supporters.

[Colin]

A Sheumais,

Well, Devil's Advocate, If you're referring to the "Bravura" thread, I must say that I agreed with you. I was going to post something supportive, but I got side-tracked.

The clansmen were warrior farmers or warrior fishermen, and "nice" and "not nice" depending on who they were dealing with; but they were in any case hard men (and women) coming from a hard environment - especially after the progressive destruction of their economy from the 16th Century onwards. The film "Rob Roy" gave a fair insight into the life.

An historian friend of mine, James Dickie, tells that the British learned how to "deal" with tribal peoples by fighting the clansmen of Scotland. You drew a parallel with the Frontier - it's hardly surprising therefore that the Highlanders serving in India (even in the "civil") identified more with the hillmen than the plainsmen - Pathans, Baluchis, Gurkhas, etc.

I think that it is essential to look back to where we came from - and the source of the kilts and their furniture - in order to draw inspriation for our modern expressions of them. As the saying goes cuimhnich air na daoine a dh'thainig thu ("remember the men from whom you came").

It's great that the kilt is being adopted as effectively the national dress of Scotland - even if very unhistorically in many cases - and that more and more people are wearing it (even the filleadh mor) in everyday life, even down south among the Sassanachs.

So, if you feal that you've become the Forums "Devil's Advocate" I can say that you'll not be lacking supporters.

I couldn't agree more. You can count me as one of your supporters as well James. Keep the great posts coming.

[Dreadbelly]

A Sheumais,

Well, Devil's Advocate, If you're referring to the "Bravura" thread, I must say that I agreed with you. I was going to post something supportive, but I got side-tracked.

The clansmen were warrior farmers or warrior fishermen, and "nice" and "not nice" depending on who they were dealing with; but they were in any case hard men (and women) coming from a hard environment - especially after the progressive destruction of their economy from the 16th Century onwards. The film "Rob Roy" gave a fair insight into the life.

An historian friend of mine, James Dickie, tells that the British learned how to "deal" with tribal peoples by fighting the clansmen of Scotland. You drew a parallel with the Frontier - it's hardly surprising therefore that the Highlanders serving in India (even in the "civil") identified more with the hillmen than the plainsmen - Pathans, Baluchis, Gurkhas, etc.

I think that it is essential to look back to where we came from - and the source of the kilts and their furniture - in order to draw inspriation for our modern expressions of them. As the saying goes cuimhnich air na daoine a dh'thainig thu ("remember the men from whom you came").

It's great that the kilt is being adopted as effectively the national dress of Scotland - even if very unhistorically in many cases - and that more and more people are wearing it (even the filleadh mor) in everyday life, even down south among the Sassanachs.

So, if you feal that you've become the Forums "Devil's Advocate" I can say that you'll not be lacking supporters.

This clansman is a warrior cook.

Oh, by the way, all very well said. **Golfclap**

[An t-Ileach]

What's a "golfclap"?

An old friend of mine, some years ago, was a K1 Cook with 45 Commando RM during their deployment in Aden and Borneo in the 60s - he actually was the champion machine gunner and would often (in Aden) spend the nights on ambush duty and the days cooking for his Comapny. Sadly, given 45's base at Arbroath, he wasn't a jock but an Englishman - but a braw lad for a' that!

[Dreadbelly]

What's a "golfclap"?

An old friend of mine, some years ago, was a K1 Cook with 45 Commando RM during their deployment in Aden and Borneo in the 60s - he actually was the champion machine gunner and would often (in Aden) spend the nights on ambush duty and the days cooking for his Comapny. Sadly, given 45's base at Arbroath, he wasn't a jock but an Englishman - but a braw lad for a' that!

A golf clap is a small polite clap of a congratulatory nature. Also for appreciation.

[Archangel]

What's a "golfclap"?

An old friend of mine, some years ago, was a K1 Cook with 45 Commando RM during their deployment in Aden and Borneo in the 60s - he actually was the champion machine gunner and would often (in Aden) spend the nights on ambush duty and the days cooking for his Comapny. Sadly, given 45's base at Arbroath, he wasn't a jock but an Englishman - but a braw lad for a' that!

so was my uncle, from Kirkaldy, who disappeared at that time. Resurfaced as a retired British soldier speaking fluent Arabic, reading Arabic newspapers, giving great insight on current events and silence on the last forty years. He's now living in rural England and drives a Lincoln Navigator. Do I want to know the whole story, rumours of SAS and MI5 or 6, oh yeah.


An t-Ileach: did you mean English or British? The essential point is correct and expanded by Greene's Pursuit of Happiness. He develops that account to the occupation of Ireland to the treatment of the colonies of America. It's a good view of where the US came from. It also gives a perspective on the resulting differences that are illustrated in contemporary North and South Iraq. (Mods, let me know if this is too political.) This is a major discussion on the Black Watch sites.

[Ranald]

Well, devils advacote also called James, If that's what you are then I say good, I gotta say you make me stop in my tracks and think about things alot deaper than I usually do.
Wouldn't life be boring if we all agreed on everything!... No we would be robots.
I for one find your posts a excellent read, I tip my bonnet to you good sir and respectfully request that you do not change.