275 Years!

[Mickey]

I posted to this earlier, but apparently it got lost in the noise, so I will try it again to hopefully at least hit the high points.

Sushi, once again you brilliantly captured the concept.

But there is a bit of a difference. Years ago when I was in government service, we worked with a lot of foreign agents/reps from many countries, all of which showed up with empty duffel bags that they filled, when asking us to take them shopping, with Levi jeans, cowboy hats and boots to take back for themselves, family and friends. This amused us, as they seemed to think that we were all cowboys. So I sort of get it. But I was never offended.

Sushi points out that in his area, the local kids want to look "gangsta" without knowing what it means, only because it looks cool.

I can assure the folks in Scotland that in my area, the kilt is anything but cool, or a trend. Many of us who wear it are doing so in an effort to gain some sort of connection to our past. There are a lot who want to wear traditional kilts, and really want to learn how it it is "supposed" to be worn, and are here trying to "connect" without being disrespectful.

My son and many of his high school classmates wear kilts quite often, not because they are trying to make a fashion statement, but because they have a heritage that they want to connect to, and and are very proud of that heritage. They take a lot of heat for it, but they don't care. I wish I had the nads my son has when I was his age.

I can only ask this of the Scots who disapprove: When you are wearing a kilt, how often do you hear laughter and cowardly comments as you pass? How often are you looked at with open disdain and scorn from elderly men? I don't wear a kilt because it is "hip". I take the crap because I'm proud to wear the kilt.

In my area, wearing a kilt is certainly not viewed as masculine, or even acceptable in many cases. I only get positive comments to my face, but when it comes to the people who do not speak to me directly,it is often a different story. But my family continues to wear the kilt because we are proud of our heritage and want the world to know it.

It is a bit annoying sometimes to hear how we are "playing at being Scottish" when in reality, it is occasionally (often) rather painful to simply wear a kilt here. I can't speak for all areas, but I can say that in my area, it takes a lot of minerals to wear a kilt.

It isn't a game for many.

[Bugbear]

If memory serves (it's been a while since I read it), Hume's 'Enquiry on Human Understanding'

It might be possible you were thinking of something in Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature, as well. I'll read through both.
* Addition:
Matt Newsome expresses some interesting things about the way the feilidh-beag or kilts in general changed in his article, "Is the Kilt English?" He says something basic about the way our cultural creations, like kilts, develop. To me, it seems to resonate with some of the discussion, and what CDNSushi posted.
http://www.albanach.org/kilt_english.html

[Peter Crowe]

It might be possible you were thinking of something in Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature, as well. I'll read through both.
* Addition:
Matt Newsome expresses some interesting things about the way the feilidh-beag or kilts in general changed in his article, "Is the Kilt English?" He says something basic about the way our cultural creations, like kilts, develop. To me, it seems to resonate with some of the discussion, and what CDNSushi posted.
http://www.albanach.org/kilt_english.html

Thanks Bugbear, as I say it's been a while since I did Professor Chris Berry's Scottish Enlightenment class at Glasgow University (13 years ago) Not that Hume was speaking of the Kilt you understand, just that custom and habit are efficacious although he was less explicit on this than Burke.

As to the Rawlinson tale, I first heard it closer to 30 years ago when Hugh Trevor-Roper (Lord Dacre) was having one of his Scotophobic episodes. As Matt Newsome's article states, it proves very little one way or the other.

My response to CDNSushi, was basically one of agreement, but merely pointing out where traditionalists are coming from, and why they deserve to be heard. I for one have never believed the Kilt should remain only in Scotland (or the UK), or that it's use should only be restricted to certain groups of people.

[Phil]

merely pointing out where traditionalists are coming from, and why they deserve to be heard. I for one have never believed the Kilt should remain only in Scotland (or the UK), or that it's use should only be restricted to certain groups of people.

I think the genie was out of the bottle a long time ago about who and where is appropriate to wear the kilt. While I have never personally heard anyone say that kilts should only be worn by those living in a specific area of Scotland, I can understand why such small-minded insularity might exist. Take any semi-isolated community of individuals who consider themselves to be a repressed and endangered minority and you are likely to find them jealously guarding what they see as "their" symbols from the supposed oppressors as one of many such defence mechanisms. Suspicion of "outsiders" is another together with hostility towards change. These are all recognisable human traits and can be accommodated with benign indulgence and understanding.

[Peter Crowe]

I think the genie was out of the bottle a long time ago about who and where is appropriate to wear the kilt. While I have never personally heard anyone say that kilts should only be worn by those living in a specific area of Scotland, I can understand why such small-minded insularity might exist. Take any semi-isolated community of individuals who consider themselves to be a repressed and endangered minority and you are likely to find them jealously guarding what they see as "their" symbols from the supposed oppressors as one of many such defence mechanisms. Suspicion of "outsiders" is another together with hostility towards change. These are all recognisable human traits and can be accommodated with benign indulgence and understanding.

Phil, the kilt aside you just described some of the frustration I felt with the insular parochialism (and the aye-been mentality) I found when I lived in the Scottish Borders. Seriously there are many views on tradition, some believe it is almost inert while others (myself included) believe it is constantly evolving and responding to new social realities but with reference to the past. Even for those of us who believe it constantly changes I doubt there is much agreement as to what the pace ought to be.

[Riverkilt]

We descendents of emmigrants are still blood relatives.

Guessing that if all of the descendents of emmigrants alive today were somehow able to return home to Scotland all at once we'd be hard pressed to find a place to stand. The country would be crammed with descendents of the emmigrants from around the World.

It is the nature of Man to move on, seek new ground.

[zirrow]

In my area, wearing a kilt is certainly not viewed as masculine, or even acceptable in many cases. I only get positive comments to my face, but when it comes to the people who do not speak to me directly,it is often a different story.

<snip>

It isn't a game for many.

a very similar setting in my area. I often wonder about the conversations that take place amongst the groups I pass full of scornful or bewildered looks. I was actually asked if I had lost a bet the other day while out at a pet store.

[Dale Seago]

a very similar setting in my area. I often wonder about the conversations that take place amongst the groups I pass full of scornful or bewildered looks. I was actually asked if I had lost a bet the other day while out at a pet store.

You could always tell 'em that actually you won first prize, and ask if they'd like to see a repeat of the bet-winning performance. . .

[DWFII]

a very similar setting in my area. I often wonder about the conversations that take place amongst the groups I pass full of scornful or bewildered looks. I was actually asked if I had lost a bet the other day while out at a pet store.

You have to take all this with a grain of salt and a bit of humour. If you can't laugh at yourself, can't laugh at the situation, and resent or are hurt by silly remarks made by sometimes silly people, wearing the kilt is always going to be uncomfortable.

That said, such folks have their counterparts in this community. The whole notion of kilt cops...which probably began here (is certainly perpetuated here)...is a prime example.

But really, it doesn't matter if you're wearing a kilt or not, people will always rib you if they feel uncomfortable.

A grin is small fare for admission.

[dutchy kilted]

Great articles - thanks for posting them. We are taking a vacation to Florida next year and might have to stop in Darian on the way home.

I do wonder how the Highland dress looked with John Deere baseball caps.