A Foot In the Door?

[ronstew]

If you are trying to keep the numbers down, I would stick with your original list plus Burns day. I don't think you want to have to educate your boss on every saint and celebration and historical event of every Celtic nation, because then he's going to lose interest in your cause. Dig too deep, and your boss will decide that you're just looking for excuses to wear the kilt, and deny you.

Frank, a private company has a right to present a public image. It has a right to enforce its dress code, and Reggie's allowed him has the opportunity to challenge it. I think the system is working here.

[Riverkilt]

Reggie, I'm with Frank,

A sad commentary on "freedom"....your outfit runs a tight ship. Imagine the COST to the company to have all those bigwigs sitting around harrumping over a kilt. Control, control, control...

But, as I've tell my bosses, I work where I choose to work. And you, for many reasons have chosen to work there.

I haven't seen St. David's day mentioned yet...for the Welsh blood you no doubt harbor somewhere.

And perhaps the day before your nearest Highland Games...

If your state has a proclamation about Tartan Day it'd be cool to get a copy framed up for your office - if you have an office. I'd also suggest decorating your office with a few cultural things...whatever fits.

You can put your tartan on your computer as a screensaver by finding the tartan you want and using the tiles feature.

You can also find and wear tartan shirts. L.L. Bean has the Maine tartan and all the armed forces tartans. Royal Stewart tartan shirts abound. The thought is, if your bosses get used to seeing you in tartans on the days you don't get to wear a kilt they'll get used to that look about you and maybe relent for more days.

But bottom line for me is that its still a sad commentary on "freedom" in the U.S.of A.

But you've helped me. I've vowed to myself that should I ever change jobs I will interview kilted and not work for any agency that has an issue with my cultural heritage.

Ron
Kilted every day, including at work, for eight months now.

[Rigged]

It's good that Reggie gets to wear his kilts to work on some occassions. This solution however points out the problem of couching kilt-wearing as a cultural rather than a rights issue.

If a kilt is only an expression of culture, then it's appropriate to limit it's wearing to cultural events. If a kilt is just any other form of men's clothing, then there cannot be any restrictions on wearing them other than safety.

We already have the legal right to wear our kilts to work. Women won that war for themselves and the laws of our land dictate equal treatment of both genders.

And yet there's risk involved in excersizing that right since employment is "at will" and employers can release any employee with or without cause.

Reggie stuck his neck out as far as he felt it was safe for him and his family.

It took considerable guts for him to take things as far as he did.

So, who's next?

[mbhandy]

Congratulation on a positive meeting. I have been there over a beard in the 70's and it was with Exxon. I still have a beard and I did while I worked there for 7yrs. Consider the meeting a start and keep on smiling

MrBill

[macwilkin]

It's good that Reggie gets to wear his kilts to work on some occassions. This solution however points out the problem of couching kilt-wearing as a cultural rather than a rights issue.

If a kilt is only an expression of culture, then it's appropriate to limit it's wearing to cultural events. If a kilt is just any other form of men's clothing, then there cannot be any restrictions on wearing them other than safety.

Rigged,

I'm not sure I understand your use of the term "couching" in this post -- I do hope you are not referring to those of us who wear our kilts as symbols of our heritage here -- for those of us who do, the kilt is a cultural issue, and I would point out, does not necessarily limit wearing to "cultural events" -- my employer is aware of my kilt wearing as a symbol of my cultural heritage, and I have never been told that I could only wear my kilt on "cultural days".

I do hope I misunderstood you. I personally never want the kilt to become "just another form of men's clothing", because of what it stands for for me.

Regards,

Todd

[Reggie]

Thanks so much everyone for the information on the best days to wear a kilt in celebration of Scottish heritage. I now have plenty of days to allow me to wear the kilt, but I'll start out slow, probably once every two months for awhile, see how it goes, then ramp it up.
I agree that it is totally unfair, and even absurd, to have to ask permission to wear a mans garment. Absolutely! My intent at starting off with an apology was to appear humble, and lessen any perception of threat. I took my wifes suggestion to project the innocence of lamb to heart here (forget the cunning of ten foxes. I'm lucky if I can summon the wits of a small muskrat). Even though, inside, I was fairly seething with contempt. Trying to open a closed mind is very much like brain surgery. Better to make small opening and inject what can be tolerated, than to bash it open with a sledge hammer and lose any chance for recovery afterwards.
Life is full of compromise. Even though I live in the country, I'm only 1.9 miles away from my work! I'm also overpaid. Really. Sounds odd for someone to say that doesn't it? I make a good living, and this company retrained me in my profession after being gone for two years in the military, when no-one else wanted anything to do with me. So I feel alot of loyalty to this company, and gratefulness. My life is blessed in a countless number of ways. I really don't want to move, or drive any longer distance to work, and I love the people I work with. The point being, how far do I really want to push my principles? I guess as far as I need to in order to maintain my self respect. We all have our own personal code that we live by. I couldn't keep my self respect without at least facing the issue, and trying to gain a foothold. That's about as far as I was willing to risk my living conditions. Do I want the kilt, or the job? And who else is going to unwillingly and helplessly suffer because I decided I want to stand on a principle, no matter how right I know I am? I can keep the job, and still achieve my goal of "kilt freedom" by setting my course on another tack, and surviving to fight another day. There have been times when I have stood up on a principle, wishing later on, that I had sat down on my own stool. It's a funny world we live in.
I'm happy to have won this small victory (without everyones help I don't think I would have). As my wife mentioned,
"If you're going to conquer the mountain, you gotta start out with a freakin' toe hold."
As an aside, I do plan to educate myself more on Scottish history, and read the book "Who Moved My Cheese?". I'm enrolled at the University and will be graduating next December, so I'm already doing alot of study and reading. Imagine, a college degree at, let's see, sheesh, I'll be 57! It's a funny world indeed! You can bet that I'll be wearing cap and gown...and kilt.

Highest regards and a thousand thanks to all!

Reggie

I am only wounded
I am not slain
I'll just lie here and bleed awhile
Then rise up and fight again

[davedove]

Remember, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step."

[motorman4life]

The important issue I see is that as Americans, our heritage did not start 230 years ago. Our heritage started many thousands of years ago and unless you are a Native American, you likely trace roots back to Europe.

I know as Americans, we tend to see ourselves as the center of the universe. This is one thing that really pisses non-Americans off. The fact is, we call ourselves Americans, disregarding the fact that "The Americas" encompass over 30 countries and protectorates. Peruvians are Americans as they live in South America. Say that in most US locales and listen to people scoff. Sad really.

It is not coincidence that portions of the US Declaration of Independence were excerpted derectly from the Declaration of Arbroath (Scotland 1320) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Arbroath and that nearly ½ of the original signers of the US Declaration and 9 of the original 13 governors were of Scottish ancestory. Much of this is outlined in the U.S. Tartan Day Resolution, signed by our Senate on March 20th, 1998.

President Woodrow Wilson, the son of a Scots-Irish Presbyterian minister, said: "Every line in America's history is a line coloured by Scottish blood."

So, regardless of your bloodline, race or upbringing , if you are a U.S. Citizen, Scots history is your history. You don’t need to make any apologies. If a female can do your job in a skirt, then you should he allowed to do it is a proper kilt, regardless of their personal feelings. I understand and can certainly appreciate why you are taking the approach you are, but the fact is, it is discrimination nonetheless.

That said, as for the dates you are seeking. I would go with the following, dates and ask that they also allow your birthday too, as you are celebrating your heritage and what better day to do that than on your own birthday?

January 25 (1759): Sir Robert Burns Day, celebrating the birth of Scotland’s national poet. Burn’s Night is considered the 2nd National Holiday, second only to St. Andrew’s Day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns

March 17: Saint Patrick's Day, celebrating Irish heritage.
http://traditions-uk.freeservers.com/StPatricksday.html

April 6 (1320): National Tartan Day, Anniversary of The Declaration of Arbroath – A day officially designated by the U.S Senate to recognize the many Scottish contributions to the formation and development United States (also celebrated in Canada). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartan_Day

July 1 (1792 & 1999): International Tartan Day
This is the Anniversary of the Repeal of the Act of Proscription (1782) and the Anniversary of the Restoration of the Scottish Parliament (1999). This is “Tartan Day” in many countries and some U.S. States, such as Colorado. You may want to check if your state celebrates Tartan Day, and if so, whether it is on April 6 or July 1. Either way, they are both valid dates for celebration.

November 30: Saint Andrew's Day, celebrating Scottish heritage. http://www.geocities.com/traditions_uk/andrew.html

These “top 5” with your birthday equal 6 dates annually. If the actual day happens to fall on a weekend, I would opt for the nearest Monday or Friday to the actual date, as is done with most all holidays.

If you want to lay some more on, chose from any of these very valid celebratory dates:

February 14 (1692): Remembrance of the Massacre at Glencoe (Glencoe Day).
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...coe/glen1.html

April 16 (1746): Remembrance of the Battle of Culloden (Culloden Day).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Culloden

June 24 (1314): Bannockburn Victory Day
Celebrating the famous 1314 battle, a significant victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bannockburn

July 22 (1758): Black Watch Day
The 42nd Highland Regiment, the “Black Watch”, is given its 'Royal' designation.

August 1 (1746): Scottish Defiance Day
The Anniversary of The Act of Proscription – Put on your kilt, which was outlawed in this day by the Crown as an instrument of war. It remained a crime to wear a kilt or any tartan for 35 years and 11 months.

August 23 (1305): William Wallace Day
A day of mourning for Sir William Wallace, patriot and protector of Scotland. Executed (hanged, disemboweled and beheaded) in London in 1305.

October 25 (1739): Highland Regiment Day (aka: Regimental Day)
The six independent companies of the "Highland Watch" or the “Black Watch”, originally raised in 1729, along with four newly-raised companies, were incorporated into a Regiment of Foot under John, the Earl of Crawford. This Regiment was originally numbered the 43rd Highland Regiment, but a decade later, it was renumbered as the 42nd Highlanders in 1749.

These dates will be posted at www.KiltDay.com/holiday.htm
If I find any more, I'll add them there.