Scottish Govt put the kibosh on Dressed to Kilt

[Phil]

This discussion came up here last September after a Scotsman article saying Edinburgh was pulling out of the Tartan Week celebrations. Here is a selection of comments (all from US residents I may add) -

“I cannot understand why Scotland does not get heavily involved with the many Scottish events and bodies in the US, Canada and elsewhere. Tartan Week does not work, if you look at the US press during it, hardly any reporting is done.”

“Problem with Tartan Week in (yuk) New York is that most of us in the US don't know about it. It's not advertised in most areas and I don't blame Edinburgh for pulling out. Taxpayers are not getting their money's worth by sending people over to gad about in NY. Here on the Main Line there's a lot of Brits and Scots who never heard of tartan week.”.

“I'm sure the folks at Tartan Week don't have a clue that the oldest Highland Games in North America are hosted by the St. Andrew's Society of Detroit (Michigan). Next year marks their 159th annual Highland Games. How many Highland Games has New York City held?”

“I have lived in America for 7 yrs and as far as knowing where Scotland is they STILL think Scotland is in England.
They know very little about why its called Gt Britain.
There are Clan Gatherings all over America but again as someone pointed out they are all claiming their heritage.
When asked where my accent comes from i ask them to guess.... i have had English,Irish,Australian... and god forbid Czech...
Don`t get me wrong i like it here but it does grate a bit having to explain where Scotland is.”

“Like I said before get out of NYC. The Scots, Scot-Irish, were at first only welcomed to Pennsylvania mountains and then down thru the Applications. After the Civil War they moved West.
There are many clan societies in the U.S.A. and they do have games. True we have fun and enjoy celebrating our ancestors, however there is where represenatives of Scotland should go. It would also be the best way to reach out to the people and educate us on modern Scotland.
While there are chapters nationwide, the action seems to be in Georgia, a nice state for a visit.
Canada also boast of many of Scottish heritage, Nove Scotia, and are also very active. I probably have cousins in Canada.
I know that the Scottish Societies in Canada and America would only be too glad to help spread not only the historical Scotland but also the modern one.”

If you read the whole of this article in the Scotsman you will discover that representatives plan to spread the net a bit wider this year - no doubt in response to the type of response seen above.
http://heritage.scotsman.com/tartanw...ake.3857592.jp

[Frank McGrath]

It all comes down to education of the masses. I was raised to be able to look at a map and tell where I was and where I was going. When I went to Austria a couple years ago, one of my coworkers asked if I was going to drive and whether or not I was going to see kangaroos. I did not want to burst his bubble, so I told him yes. I have had much the same when I talk of going to Scotland. It's all the lack of education, not only in their youth, but as adults. It just grates on my nerves to listen to people when they just don't know what is going on. Ok......Soapbox: off.

[thescot]

I think the Scottish governement is missing a big opportunity on this side of the pond.

. . .“I have lived in America for 7 yrs and as far as knowing where Scotland is they STILL think Scotland is in England.
They know very little about why its called Gt Britain.
There are Clan Gatherings all over America but again as someone pointed out they are all claiming their heritage.
When asked where my accent comes from i ask them to guess.... i have had English,Irish,Australian... and god forbid Czech...
Don`t get me wrong i like it here but it does grate a bit having to explain where Scotland is.”

“. . .l]

This quote from a tranplanted Scot says a lot. And that Scot can blame it all on Scots from Scotland. I have never been to a large gathering here in the US that didn't have UK government representatives--al of whom are English!

Where are the Scots? Here at the Stone Mountain games, there is always an English gentleman from the consulate, but I've not seen one person from the Scottish Parliament. It's as if they don't know we exist--or perhaps--care.

One visiting clan chief remarked that he never sees so large a gathering in Scotland, and I'd love to see someone from Scotland pay attention to the great opportunity here. We all know there's a lot more to Scotland that kilts and haggis, but kilts and haggis are uniquesly Scottish, and they're are terrific spring boards to the beauty and reality that is Scotland. I've never visited any countries where I was better received that in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

As mentioned above, you don't find so great a concentration of Scots-Irish, Scots, Irish, and/or any other stripe of Celt way up in NY. We're mostly concentrated in the more southern regions of the US, I think.

So come on over and get some press.

[Woodsheal]

I think it's the old Calvinist fear that someone, somewhere, might be having fun...!

[Phil]

I think it's the old Calvinist fear that someone, somewhere, might be having fun...!

Did you actually read the article?

and here is the one in September - http://heritage.scotsman.com/tartanw...lue.3327033.jp

[thescot]

I think it's the old Calvinist fear that someone, somewhere, might be having fun...!

It's just a joke. Like the old Calvinist proscription agains shaggin' standing up--it might lead to dancing.

[slohairt]

This type of thinking is all too common, I'm afraid. I experienced it in Ireland also. My parents and grandparents rail against it too. The thinking that modernisation equals 'North Americanisation' (not that there's anything wrong with that!)

Here in Canada (and I think I can speak for my American brothers and sisters as well) we have people either from, or descended from, every nation on this planet. To favour or promote the trappings of one culture over another would be foolish at best, and dangerous at the worst.

The Diaspora often has more enthusiasm for the culture of the Mother Country than the modern-day residents of those regions. While promoting a homogenised 'modern' culture, these same residents often perpetuate a contradiction: some of them continue to mock the very same society they are seeking to emulate. (?)

Think of some of the people who have come to this forum every now and then (I won't say who they are), telling us what 'real' Scots do, or what 'Celtic culture' really is, and how everyone else knows nothing. The reality is that most of these people don't engage in anything more 'cultural' than pubbin' an' clubbin'.

As for many North Americans not knowing where or what certain countries are, that is all too true as well. When I tell people I am from Ireland originally, they ask if we still hate being in the British Empire. When I tell them that Ireland is an independent country, that Northern Ireland is still part of the UK, they seem surprised.

"Oh, when did that happen?"
"Um, before you were born, likely."

[Woodsheal]

It's just a joke. Like the old Calvinist proscription against shaggin' standing up--it might lead to dancing.

Thank you! Just a joke. Apologies to all resident Calvinists....

[sharpdressedscot]

Hmm, I think some people are gonna be a wee bit angry about this.

You can't just stop traditions that have been happening for hundreds of years.

[Phil]

Hmm, I think some people are gonna be a wee bit angry about this.

You can't just stop traditions that have been happening for hundreds of years.

Um.. actually Tartan Day is fairly recent. While it would be nice to encourage lots of tourists from New York it just ain't gonna happen. I've seen lots of posts here about why it's best to buy local (and I actually agree with that) and how expensive everything is in Scotland (ditto). So where is the bang for the buck in parading around New York? What our First Minister and his colleagues appear to be planning is to visit several places and no doubt put across his views about a modern Scotland. And while they are at it no doubt some business opportunities will be discussed also.