A Modern Scottish View of Clans (and Gathering)

[dfmacliam]

I find this thread to be very informative and helps understand the beliefs of those in Scotland. I also know that a sense of belonging to something greater is important to so many in the States.
For years, other ethnicities have openly celebrated their heritage, to the point of seeing clothing belonging on another continent, is common. America is a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures, and there is no true American culture. People have come, to escape the hardships and servitude from the Old Country, and to make a life for themselves. They brought with them their love of their homelands, many of those from Scotland. You study the American South and you find the similarity of Scotland... The names, dialect( the Appalachian dialect is said a form of the Scots language).. The flags of the Civil War, the famed Stars and Bars Battle Flag, Alabama State flag is actually the St Patricks Cross (I know that's Irish) as well as others.
True, there is a romantizied view of what Scotland means to people these days, but it comes from the love of the Country that the forefathers brought with them, not the reasons for the leaving of the land, the servitude, the hardships.
I understand exactly what has happened because of my own personal life. I am a first generation American, a naturalized American. My family comes from Ireland by way of England... I am first generation who was not taught Gaelic, I was not sent to Catholic Church, I was actually made to fit into the American way of life. I was later told, it was because my mother did not want me to experience the wrongs she had to, growing up Irish Catholic in England.
I am proud to be Irish(descent) and I wish I had the chance to learn what was kept from me. I will wear my Saffron kilt, identifying myself as being Irish and enjoy the company of those like minded people... Who shares their love of being Scots, Irish, Welsh, Cornish, or whatever Celtic peoples they are descended from..
I respect the views of those from Scotland, and I have learned from them... I hope to learn more about my Scots family...

[macwilkin]

You study the American South and you find the similarity of Scotland... The names, dialect( the Appalachian dialect is said a form of the Scots language).. The flags of the Civil War, the famed Stars and Bars Battle Flag, Alabama State flag is actually the St Patricks Cross (I know that's Irish) as well as others.

The Confederate saltire was not based on the St. Andrew's Cross, at least according to its designer, William P. Miles. It is a saltire, but that is a common device in heraldry, and not always associated with Scotland. Miles wanted a distinctive flag not based upon the US flag, although some ridiculed his design as a "pair of braces".

BTW, the "Stars and Bars" is not the "Battle flag" (which in itself is not correct). The former refers to the First National Flag of the CSA, whilst the latter can refer to a myriad of flags used by Confederate forces.

Regards,

Todd

[Deil the Yin]

I find this thread to be very informative and helps understand the beliefs of those in Scotland. I also know that a sense of belonging to something greater is important to so many in the States.
For years, other ethnicities have openly celebrated their heritage, to the point of seeing clothing belonging on another continent, is common. America is a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures, and there is no true American culture. People have come, to escape the hardships and servitude from the Old Country, and to make a life for themselves. They brought with them their love of their homelands, many of those from Scotland. You study the American South and you find the similarity of Scotland... The names, dialect( the Appalachian dialect is said a form of the Scots language).. The flags of the Civil War, the famed Stars and Bars Battle Flag, Alabama State flag is actually the St Patricks Cross (I know that's Irish) as well as others.
True, there is a romantizied view of what Scotland means to people these days, but it comes from the love of the Country that the forefathers brought with them, not the reasons for the leaving of the land, the servitude, the hardships.
I understand exactly what has happened because of my own personal life. I am a first generation American, a naturalized American. My family comes from Ireland by way of England... I am first generation who was not taught Gaelic, I was not sent to Catholic Church, I was actually made to fit into the American way of life. I was later told, it was because my mother did not want me to experience the wrongs she had to, growing up Irish Catholic in England.
I am proud to be Irish(descent) and I wish I had the chance to learn what was kept from me. I will wear my Saffron kilt, identifying myself as being Irish and enjoy the company of those like minded people... Who shares their love of being Scots, Irish, Welsh, Cornish, or whatever Celtic peoples they are descended from..
I respect the views of those from Scotland, and I have learned from them... I hope to learn more about my Scots family...

How fitting that you live in Cleburne, Texas! Is that perchance named after the Confederate General Cleburne (who was Irish himself)?

[dfmacliam]

How fitting that you live in Cleburne, Texas! Is that perchance named after the Confederate General Cleburne (who was Irish himself)?

That is exactly who the town is named after, the Texas troops from the area served under him.