An Open Question for 'Jock Scot' (and Scots)

[hkjrb623]

I actually couldn't bear to sit and read this entire thread. I had two Grandfathers, both native Scots, that insisted on passing on as much of the culture as possible. So with that, I picked up the kilt. The same sense of pride was also passed down from and Irish Great-Grandmother and a Welsh Great-Grandfather. In my family it's pretty common to honor your ancestry. I really don't get the deliberation, because it's very different from person to person and family to family. Cultural identity is a huge deal in many other cultures that I'm personally familiar with (i.e.- Koreans, Vietnamese, Mexicans, and so forth). In the end, why does it really matter. Comedian Billy Connolly had the best reply to this. He says that kilts are really only worn in Edinburgh. The real sign of a Highlander is his wellies.

Here's the link for the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SguYlpm3ffQ

[Bigkahuna]

See.............Tribal thing.

[islandkilt]

Scots are not allowed to wear that. It's a Tribal thing.

aw rats...

[creagdhubh]

I actually couldn't bear to sit and read this entire thread. I had two Grandfathers, both native Scots, that insisted on passing on as much of the culture as possible. So with that, I picked up the kilt. The same sense of pride was also passed down from and Irish Great-Grandmother and a Welsh Great-Grandfather. In my family it's pretty common to honor your ancestry. I really don't get the deliberation, because it's very different from person to person and family to family. Cultural identity is a huge deal in many other cultures that I'm personally familiar with (i.e.- Koreans, Vietnamese, Mexicans, and so forth). In the end, why does it really matter. Comedian Billy Connolly had the best reply to this. He says that kilts are really only worn in Edinburgh. The real sign of a Highlander is his wellies.

Here's the link for the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SguYlpm3ffQ

Thanks for sharing and well put.

Cheers,

[David Dubh]

I had read all of this late last night and wasn't going to post however a couple of things. I think that the reason that north americans in general don't have a cultural identity, our nations are relatively new and unless we are of pure indiginous ancestry we know that we came from somewhere else. Jock whom I have the utmost respect for can't wrap his head around this for very good reason. As he has stated he wouldn't try and go back to his norman or norse roots for very good reason it's almost a thousand years ago and Scotland has developed a very proud history fighting for it's independence on many occasions and of course the proud and bloody history of the Highland regiments, and the infamy of the highland clearances.
My parents emigrated from Scotland in their mid\late twenties, they were born and raised in and around Glasgow. In 1962 when they were married it was morning suite, the only one they knew who wore the kilt was the son of a Laird titled highland gentry. My father never wore the kilt until my sisters wedding some 17 years ago, he would have been in his mid to late 50's. I have worn the kilt on and off since childhood, they were sent to me by my granny until we went to Scotland for 3 months when I got a proper kilt and sporran. Now my parents while they lived in Scotland did not do any cultural thing, by which I mean didin't attend any Burn's suppers nor did they visit any of the historical sites Bannockburn, Culloden, Sterling or Edinburgh Castles etc. Mum waxes poetic about how wonderful Scotland is and how it doesn't get snow and it's warmer than Canada and how fantastic Glasgow is. Needless to say my wife was a little disapointed in some of the things we saw, the weather and particularly Glasgow when we visited this past September.
I think that when people emigrate they tend to miss the old country or parts/things about it. The longer the seperation the more rose coloured the spectacle become. So no we can't expect Scots living in Scotland to understand, and of course most of them have had bad experiences with tourists who are more "Scottish" then they are. I wear the kilt because I grew up with it and I am of scots blood. When my country is several hundred years old I am sure this will change. Remember here in Canada we have a large population of French Canadians who would have a hard time talking with people in France because their dialect and accent are unreconizable over there.
Just my opinion. and appologies if I have inadvertently offended anyone.
Respectfully David

[Alan H]

I was going to write something acidic about this thread and then I remembered my friend, MacMillans Son telling me that getting pissed off about stuff online is kind of like yelling at the TV. You have the remote control in your hand.

[piperdbh]

Alan H, that's the best thing I've read all day.

[dfmacliam]

I agree Allan.... and it seems that this subject is brought up every six months to a year... and the results are always the same... If you don't want your feelings hurt, stop asking Jock Scot his opinion, on this subject...his answer will always be the same....LOL

[Livingston]

With a handle like Kahuna I was expecting a grass kilt and a tartan lei.

I WAS KIDDING, Dear god I was kidding!!! Although I'd like to see one pull off a coconut bra.

Please DON'T include the rubber chicken sporran. There is only one person that does that and we don't need any others.

[ccga3359]

What's wrong with yelling at the TV? It's more sane than yelling at the toaster.