Tartan, 1572

[Woodsheal]

Perhaps we should all take a lesson from J. Telfer Dunbar, the preeminent historian of Highland dress (the emphasis is mine):

"The emergence of Scottish Highland dress as a recognisable entity took place several centuries ago in that happy hunting ground for antiquarians known as the 'Mists of Antiquity.' Any attempt to fix its obscure origins precisely is undoubtedly foolish; nevertheless many students of the subject have attempted to do so. Their resulting arguments have usually generated more heat than light."

-from Highland Costume, Edinburgh, 1977.

[Tony Miles]

....Their resulting arguments have usually generated more heat than light."

That's a great line!

[macwilkin]

Of course it's not - you take Hollywood and the entertainment industry way too seriously. Most people take movies for what they are - just some mindless fun. Most people take the ren faire for what it is - just some mindless fun. Don't get me wrong there will always be small segment of the population that think Star Wars is actually real history but to fume over a tiny handful of people taking a movie as real history is really sort of pointless

You've never taught a history class or worked at a historic site, have you?

Trust me, there are quite a few folks who do only get their history from Hollywood, and its the teachers, historians and park rangers who generally have to clean up the mess Hollywood makes.

Todd

[Tony Miles]

You've never taught a history class or worked at a historic site, have you?

Trust me, there are quite a few folks who do only get their history from Hollywood, and its the teachers, historians and park rangers who generally have to clean up the mess Hollywood makes.

Nope never worked in those roles

Well mythology abounds in all circles and about all subjects and having those occupations would naturally create a daily exercise in refuting inaccuracies - but it's still an anecdotal conclusion.

[macwilkin]

Nope never worked in those roles

Well mythology abounds in all circles and about all subjects but having those occupations would naturally create a daily exercise in refuting inaccuracies - but it's still an anecdotal conclusion.

Well I have, and I can tell you many anecdotes about the lack of historical knowledge in this country, Tony. It's enough to make you mad and cry.

T.

[Tony Miles]

And once you start down that path why not add unicorns.....

Maybe there were unicorns

But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

Apparently in 1611 they thought there were

[Tony Miles]

Well I have, and I can tell you many anecdotes about the lack of historical knowledge in this country, Tony. It's enough to make you mad and cry.

We all live segmented lives and can't become experts in every area. That's why we need those who are passionate about history to uphold that flame. Unfortunately the acquisition of great volumes of knowledge can also lead a person to become intolerant towards those who have "lesser" knowledge to the point that they appear arrogant

[macwilkin]

We all live segmented lives and can't become experts in every area. That's why we need those who are passionate about history to uphold that flame. Unfortunately the acquisition of great volumes of knowledge can also lead a person to become intolerant towards those who have "lesser" knowledge to the point that they appear arrogant

Tony,

I don't believe everyone should be experts -- however, there are basic historical facts regarding our nation's history that every citizen should at least be aware of -- in the United States, our shared history is our nationality. There's nothing arrogant about that.

Todd

[dfmacliam]

There is always a speck of truth in a myth.... Talking of unicorns.... Look at dragons and their reality..... Dinosaur bones helped create the myth of dragons... So unicorns... Could have a feasible explaination.

[Tony Miles]

Tony,

I don't believe everyone should be experts -- however, there are basic historical facts regarding our nation's history that every citizen should at least be aware of -- in the United States, our shared history is our nationality. There's nothing arrogant about that.

I agree with you completely. However even the "interpretation" of the U.S history has much mythology and lacking in logic in certain circles. I've watched people drone on for hours about how America is or is not founded on Christianity or God. How the forefathers were or were not deists or atheists or Masons or you name it.

So with U.S. history being very recent and is still subject to "mythology" and "interpretations" how much more so for more ancient history as in Scotland where the documentation gets more scant.