Ponderings of an ancient Scot.

[davidlpope]

What I am asking is for all of us to peer into a crystal ball and see what YOU see for the future. This is a theoretical discussion about you Non Scots(sorry) wearing non Scots tartans as the connection to Scotland dilutes over the next umpteen decades, centuries even.

I'm not sure that the connection to Scotland really gets that much more diluted in a philosophical sense. In a real sense, sure, the first generation (and all those who follow) that grows up outside Scotland has no firsthand experience of the country or its people, save for trips to visit, and is mainly a product of the nation they reside in. But if we reckon that the modern understanding of tartans, kilts, and clans was created in a time that looked romantically back to a much earlier era, then I don't see that the addition of more generations really makes a difference.

(From the crystal ball)

In fact, I'd argue that as we move forward into the future, MORE Americans, Canadians, Australians, Frenchmen(Robert!), etc. will adopt the kilt and Scottish clan tartans as a means of embracing their Scottish ancestry. I think this is due to an increase in both disposable income (despite the economic crash) and non-working time, the increased ease in genealogical research due to the Internet and digitized documents, and a greater willingness to engage in a wider range of hobbies.

I'm not a Scot, but I think if I were, I would encourage the wearing of Scottish tartans by the descendants of the Scottish Diaspora wherever they may reside...It's a powerful visible symbol of what great effect one small nation has had on the world!

Cordially,

David