Ponderings of an ancient Scot.

[MacBean]

I really hope that the kilt wearers of the future, with distant, or non Scots connections, will move on to new tartans and leave the clan tartans to the Scots.

I see some sense in this. The Scottish traditions have been cheapened by poor immitation and that is a shame. It may also be a shame that Scots somewhat abandoned their old ways and language (Gaelic or Scots) in the interest of fitting in better with the English (who do seem to value conformity).

I am, I suppose, American with a Scottish surname and lineage to Inverness shire, and a clan chief who resides, not in Scotland, but in Tuscon, Arizona. So Jock, do you wear a clan tartan corresponding to your surname? If you do, then I do the same. The chief difference is that you reside in Scotland and I do not. Another difference is that for every Scottish ancestor, I have 20 or so who were from other lands, yet the surname stands. If Clan MacBean were restricted to those living in Scotland, then it would cease to exist; there just aren't enough left in Scotland to make it work.

Having argued both sides now, I would love to avoid cheapening the traditions, but also wish to uphold the story of Clan MacBean and Clan Chattan in general. Perhaps we need a new version of tartan - modern, ancient, weathered, hunting, and EXPATRIATE?