clan associations

[Bugbear]

For me, it's more that if you stretch the rubber band too far, two-hundred years plus, it snaps.

Also, it leaves out all the other parts of the tree, for example, the German branch et al which make up the vast majority of the tree.

[MacBean]

No I am not a member of my Clan association as it all seems a bit artificial to me.

For me, it's more that if you stretch the rubber band too far, two-hundred years plus, it snaps. Also, it leaves out all the other parts of the tree, for example, the German branch et al which make up the vast majority of the tree.

I completely agree with both comments, but I like to select and control my identity at this late stage in my life. This year I joined Clan MacBean in order to contribute to their journal, though have been a member of Clan Chattan a longer time. There were plenty of native Scots (and seven chiefs) at the recent Clan Chattan Confederation Band of Union Resigning...it's not just limited to Yanks, Aussies, etc. I think it important to preserve cultural heritage as best we can abroad. Jews have done it well (perhaps because their lines are entirely matrilineal). If dressing in kilts, learning the bagpipes, or even the Gaelic seem artificial, well, so be it. We are trying to preserve that which was so easily lost to our forbears upon emigration.

I calculate that I have about 120 forbearer lines back to Europe in the 1600's and 1700's. At least 7 of those families that I know about were Scottish: MacBean, Scot, Buccleuch, Faulkner, McAuley, Moore, Lamont, etc.

Look down the road far enough, and will anyone be able to claim they are really Scots? My children have already picked up Native American, African, Portuguese, and German in addition to what I brought them. The gene pool was never that isolated anyway, and certainly isn't now. I've lived in more than five countries, which one is mine?