Wannabe Scot

[Mike1]

I think that we would all agree that Scots that look down on wearing the kilt except in situations they consider appropriate are denying their heritage to some extent.

Mmmmmm, maybe we wouldn't all agree, Graham.

As an American, am I expected to wear homespun shirts, breeches and tri-corn hats to prevent your making that same observation of me? Or maybe I am supposed to be in buckskins and a coon-skin cap?

A portion of my family immigrated from Germany and I don't wear lederhosen. Ever. Am I denying my German heritage?

I wear a kilt when I choose to wear it, so I reckon I fit into that 'appropriate situation' category. Does this deny my Scots heritage?

If you feel that Scots are to wear a kilt daily, then are you denying your own English heritage, by dressing as you feel Scots are intended to dress?

This is a subject that seems to keep coming up and the not-so-subtle comments about Scots not wearing kilts are well beyond needing addressed.

If you take a look at some of the commemorative events that take place in Scotland, you're more likely than not going to see men dressed in belted plaids, not in your latest and greatest, teflon-coated, PV fabric, Velcro-enclosure casual kilts. Now this isn't to suggest that there is anything wrong with that type of kilt, but there's a whole lot of that 'heritage' lost in this style of kilt.

Try telling these fellows that they are denying their heritage -



I know the seven men in that image and of the seven, four are wearing belted plaids. I know two of the others are wearing their only kilt, but neither of them are 'casual' kilts.

At least four of these men had marched nearly five miles that afternoon, tracing the route that Mar took, leading his troops to the Battle of Sheriffmuir. When this picture was taken, they had just returned from a nearly four-mile round-trip march from the Sheriffmuir Inn to the Macrae Monument and back. In -5° C weather, no less. Yessir, there was a whole lot of heritage deinial going on with this lot.

These men hold their heritage VERY dearly and they spend considerable amounts of money promoting and attending commemorations. Would they better serve Scotland's heritage by sitting at home, saving their money to buy more kilts, so tourists could feel more comfortable?

Here's another group of Scots at another commemoration -



There's not a man in that photo wearing anything but a belted plaid. The young lady in the center is wearing an arisaid.

Do they appear to be denying their heritage?

The day of the Wallace Homecoming, I was wearing a terribly expensive, 9-yard, hand-sewn kilt, crafted of Lochcarron wool. Graham, I've got $657.65 USD in JUST the wool for that kilt. I could get Rocky to sew me up two kilts for what I paid to have this one sewn. And the young lady that is wearing the arisaid in the image above told me that I needed to get a length of material, so that I could just wear a plaid, rather than "that dress kilt".

So whose standards are we supposed to meet, while demonstrating our heritage? Yours? Hers? Mine?

Does a clergyman have to wear a tabbed collar, 365 days a year? Is it OK for a police officer to remove his badge? Have you ever bumped into a doctor not wearing his white smock?

Does a Scots-born resident of Dundee or Stirling or Edinburgh have to wear a kilt 24/7, to prove his heritage to anyone, particularly the tourist that is visiting for a week or two?

Graham, I respect your right, your choice and your ability to wear a kilt whenever you like. I just hope that you don't cross a line where you fail to respect others for making those same decisions for themselves.

[macwilkin]

Well said, Mike! You raise some very valid points.

I do not wear a kilt everyday -- for me, the kilt is a symbol of my heritage. I do not want it to become just another garment in my closet.

Cheers,

Todd

[bubba]

Well now, nobody is denying heritage, but I wear my kilts every day. Are they just another garment in my closet? Yes, they are and that's the way I like it. Frankly, that's no different than our ancestors. Their kilts and plaids were clothing not symbols. The symbolism is fairly recent.The kilts are comfortable and practical for me, not something to be worshipped or held in deep reverence. Heritage is an entirely different thing to my mind than an article of clothing, it's the men and women that went before us.

[macwilkin]

Well now, nobody is denying heritage, but I wear my kilts every day. Are they just another garment in my closet? Yes, they are and that's the way I like it. Frankly, that's no different than our ancestors. Their kilts and plaids were clothing not symbols. The symbolism is fairly recent.The kilts are comfortable and practical for me, not something to be worshipped or held in deep reverence. Heritage is an entirely different thing to my mind than an article of clothing, it's the men and women that went before us.

Bubba,

If you re-read my message, you'll notice that for me, the kilt is a symbol of my heritage -- not for anyone else, since I can't speak for them, but for me.

I do not "worship" my kilt, but I do respect the history of the kilt -- what's wrong with that? I am proud of my heritage and my kilt is a tanigble symbol -- what's wrong that? The kilt, to me, stands for those men and women.

I respect your views & opinions on your kilts, and I hope you would respect mine.

Todd

[bubba]

Todd, I absolutely respect your viewpoint, I just expressed the counterpoint. All of this just goes to show the wide range of viewpoints. None are wrong, just different. I certainly didn't mean to sound combative.

[Riverkilt]

Sure can identify with men who embrace the kilt yet have no Scottish heritage.

I have no Navajo blood, but after a lifetime of seeking spiritual fulfillment I found a "personal relationship with God" in a Navajo sweatlodge while a Navajo medicine man was praying. I was the only non-Navajo in the sweatlodge.

Because of being true to where I found spirituality I'm sometimes called a Navajo wannabe. Yet other Navajos understand and welcome me. I find them to be the more spiritual of the two groups.

Using that understanding I, as a man of thick Scots ancestry, welcome any man to wear the kilt and enjoy the pleasures thereof.

Humans, being the lustful beings they are, have now brought the species on Earth to where there's no way to slice and dice people up to find a "true" culture or race. We're all a mix. The tides of peoples that have swept back and forth across the area we call Scotland is example enough of that process.

This planet is soooo fragile. Mostly water, uninhabitable for humans. Some land areas far too cold or far too hot for human habitation. A very thin layer of air containing enough oxygen to survive...a mere two miles or so in height. Its amazing the diversity we still have in such a small area.

And today, many are free enough to chose to live where they want to live and to wear the garments they chose to wear. Is Earth a great planet or what!?

Ron

[Graham]

Is Earth a great planet or what!?

Sure is! I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

and the other issue, I'm just saying that it's a shame that kilt wearing is often frowned upon in Scotland, and yet seems to be more acceptable in other countries, so any notion of "let's go to Scotland where the kilt is more accepted" would likely be a false one.

not that this all matters, I would wear the kilt anywhere.

[Blu (Ontario)]

... I'm just saying that it's a shame that kilt wearing is often frowned upon in Scotland...

... and we just have to accept that wisdom in context, for what its worth.

... not that this all matters, I would wear the kilt anywhere.

I certainly have no problems wearing a kilt anywhere either, but just because I can doesn't mean I do it. There's nothing wrong with wearing kilts full time... but equally, there nothing wrong with not wearing kilts full time - it's a choice. For me, the right to choose is more important than actually choosing to do it.

[highlander_Daz]

Graham -kilt wearing isnt frowned upon in Scotland, honestly.

Mike has hit the nail on the head, You dont have to wearing the kilt to be proud of your Scots heritage, its always there.

there are many many people who dont give 2 hoots about being a Scot, and yet to others its the most important thing in the world.

dressing up in a belted plaid and a tam doesnt make you a Scot, its all window dressing, but if like Todd you want to honour you Scots heritage by wearing the kilt then go ahead and wear it like a Scot. you can honour it just as easily without.

Wallace most likely didnt wear the Kilt, nor did The Bruce or Rabbie Burns, but Scots they were.

[Ranald]

Ive never known a Scot that was offended by anyone wearing the kilt, in fact most non-scots rock bands know that when they play a gig in Scotland, appering onstage in the kilt is guaranteed to bring the house down. Axl Rose, Mick Hucknell, Westlife, all have worn the Kilt at gigs in Scotland and have recieved a rapturous welcome.

I got to say I wish I was a rock star that way I'd have more money for lots of kilts !
Unfortunately though not all scots feel the same way about the wearing of the kilt like we do.
One comment I over heard as the guy told his daughter "A wee bit girly for your brother I think" I know he was refering to the kilt and it was said just loud enough so I could hear.I wouldn't mind though but on his sweatshirt it said 'dare to be different'.And yes he was a scot.
Don't know about wannabe but I wish I had their accent.