Objective journalism is largely a myth, traditional marriage is a personal choice, and parents raising their children have every opportunity to pass their values and culture to the next generation. That many choose not to do so is another example that "tradition" is both fleeting and subject to external forces that result in its inevitable evolution.

Tradition could even be cyclic. My family's Scottish heritage was not exactly embraced by my Father or my Grandfather. Yet here I am on this forum.

As for "oral contracts," well, if the parties were illiterate I suppose there was no other option. To think that this was a time when men "kept their word" more than they do now may be putting a romantic spin on the past.

I have nothing against tradition per se, but I cannot follow one so rigidly that it seemingly takes on a religious significance - suddenly being above scrutiny, science (as in English weights and measurements), common sense, or perhaps even more importantly, my own personal sovereignty.

Bottom line: Individuals change. Society changes. How then can tradition be exempt from the very changes affecting those who created the tradition in the first place?

Yet I'd like to think that when I sit at the pub in my UK and hiking boots, sipping an Islay single malt, and arguing the designated hitter rule with some friends, I'm still participating in a tradition. Several of them in fact - all of which make sense for this time and place.

Bill