Wannabe Scot

[cormacmacguardhe]

Just read through a lot of the posts in this thread, and found lots of things I agree with. Where I live is close to a ski area and in the summer we get lots of tourists who come for the hiking trails and other natural scenery. If they would stray off the usual paths they would find some quite seedy areas. Even the nearest town has a problem with "street people" and panhandlers who frequent the downtown area, which the city fathers are trying to "revitalize". I think that you could find similar problems in just about every country in the world. We, people in general, tend to glamorize places we do not live. That is why we travel to different countries to see the sights.

As to Scotland, I have a almost visceral need to travel there and see the places that my grandmother told me about, I also want to travel through the countryside because the pictures I have seen give me the impression that it is a beautiful country. My ancestors came from that part of the world, I want to visit where they walked, see things that they saw. I hope someday to do just that.

Maybe my search for a connection is a grasping for something missing in my life otherwise. I am not going to psychoanalyze myself, and it really does not matter. Anything I can do to reaffrim my Scottish roots and to pass on pride of ancestry to my children, I see as a positive. My wife was denied half of her heritage, mainly because her father was a "fling" her mother had with a gentleman of Mexican ancestry.

A lot of people, especially in the USA take immense pride in their hyphen-American roots. Any way I am beginning to ramble so I will cut this short. I am not a wannbe Scot, I am simply trying to show pride in my ancestry, besides kilts are more comfortable than trousers. And the ladies like them more.

[Graham]

A lot of people, especially in the USA take immense pride in their hyphen-American roots. Any way I am beginning to ramble so I will cut this short. I am not a wannbe Scot, I am simply trying to show pride in my ancestry, besides kilts are more comfortable than trousers. And the ladies like them more.

Nice and simple, which is the way i like things
I think Glassman spoke of the way we are social creatures and most feel at some time a need to belong and identify.

Spiritually, I belong and identify with the God of the Bible (earlier Ron spoke of his spiritual belonging).
Physically, like here on earth, we have liberty to belong and identify as we please, at least in the free world we do.

I think just deciding to wear a kilt is in a way "reinventing" ourselves, taking on a new image and identity, one that is percieved as Scottish, whether we think of it that way or not.

For me, as long as there is harmony between the spiritual and physical identities (and I think there is), then I am both happy and unconcerned what others think or say.

so, to return to the comment that began this all, if some think of me as "wannabe scot", that's fine.
If some think I'm overly romanticising my love of Scotland, so be it (I'm a romantic http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...light=romantic )

In the immortal words of Popeye "I yam wot I yam"

[Ranald]

Just read through a lot of the posts in this thread, and found lots of things I agree with. Where I live is close to a ski area and in the summer we get lots of tourists who come for the hiking trails and other natural scenery. If they would stray off the usual paths they would find some quite seedy areas. Even the nearest town has a problem with "street people" and panhandlers who frequent the downtown area, which the city fathers are trying to "revitalize". I think that you could find similar problems in just about every country in the world. We, people in general, tend to glamorize places we do not live. That is why we travel to different countries to see the sights.

As to Scotland, I have a almost visceral need to travel there and see the places that my grandmother told me about, I also want to travel through the countryside because the pictures I have seen give me the impression that it is a beautiful country. My ancestors came from that part of the world, I want to visit where they walked, see things that they saw. I hope someday to do just that.

Maybe my search for a connection is a grasping for something missing in my life otherwise. I am not going to psychoanalyze myself, and it really does not matter. Anything I can do to reaffrim my Scottish roots and to pass on pride of ancestry to my children, I see as a positive. My wife was denied half of her heritage, mainly because her father was a "fling" her mother had with a gentleman of Mexican ancestry.

A lot of people, especially in the USA take immense pride in their hyphen-American roots. Any way I am beginning to ramble so I will cut this short. I am not a wannbe Scot, I am simply trying to show pride in my ancestry, besides kilts are more comfortable than trousers. And the ladies like them more.

Amen to that couldn't have put it better myself.
I like you have felt something missing, and have decided to find it, yes by actually moving here! This is where I was meant to be born but by some freak coincidence this was not to be.
Your right Scotland is the most beautiful place you've ever seen, actually it's better than the pictures that are around.
I assure you that tourist I'm not, and wearing a kilt is my choice, I do not wear it for notoriety, I didn't chose it as a easy option either,If I had wanted the easy route I would've been in breeks.
It has been said that the wearing of the kilt gives a lesson in human nature, boy your so right !
Oh and this is posted while I sit here eating my porridge oats...I'm serious.
My best.
Richard.