Bagpipe ban for tat shops

[Dixiecat]

Well I would have to ask a Q there... How many kilt makers, dancers, and pipe bands are there in Canada? That's not to mention regiments... I'd say that Canada has more than a fair claim to both kilts and its share of Scotlands heritage...

I can certainly remember my aunt coming over to visit the UK in 1976 from Barrington Passage in Nova Scotia and bringing with her Nova Scotia tartan... I can also remember mentions of jacket conversions being semi normal, especially for PC's...

I dont think the Kilt is just Scottish anymore...

I had to chuckle at this, especially when I remembered Billy Connelly in his first episode of Journey to the Edge of the World series. He was visiting a highland games in Fredricton, NB and saw all the kilties and pipe band members and dancers, all in kilts and other Scottish attire. He commented on how they were all 'pretending' to be Scots. They may have been all Canadians, but most of them can boast to unbroken generations of Scottish blood from the moment their families landed in the Maritime provinces!

[Chirs]

Fellows, I'm starting to feel like an intruder for loving and admiring things that are Scottish. I'm starting to wonder if I should just wear trousers, sell off my kilts and jackets, and leave my membership here.

I completely understand what you're saying Father Bill. I'm already there.

[Father Bill]

I completely understand what you're saying Father Bill. I'm already there.

Hang in Chris, and read the messages of support too. We're on thinnish ice, but maybe far from falling through.

[sydnie7]

Hang in Chris, and read the messages of support too. We're on thinnish ice, but maybe far from falling through.

Not sure you're anywhere near the ice, considering threads such as this one. Seems not every Scot views (or wears) the kilt in the same fashion -- and let's hear it for the grand variety of life!

[PEEDYC]

Quote from Seanachie "Environmental Officers whom I suspect are specially delegated PCs" In the UK we do have such a beast. They can be called upon for anything that threatens the "environment" or "public health" from dumped rubbish to oils spills, flooding etc. The list goes on and on. They do have the power to confiscate music equipment if it is too noisy or creating a breach of the peace such as a noisy party late at night or in this case on the street.

[Duke of Delrio]

When I was a young boy I loved Christmas. The snow, the scent of evergreen in the house, the color and the lights . . . I loved it all. Then the jewelry store began to play Christmas carols and seasonal songs on a loudspeaker that could be heard all over our small town. I liked that too for about fifteen or twenty minutes. After that, I wanted the loudspeaker torn out, the playing of White Christmas banned, and Irving Berlin killed in front of me where I could see it happen. It turned Christmas into an audible torment, and its carols into those fever dream tunes you can't get out of your head.

I can only imagine the resentment of a citizen of Edinburgh, whose eyes and ears are assaulted day in and day out along the Royal Mile by a cacophony that has turned the atmosphere of that great city into something to be avoided. Were I that citizen, I would have long since been moved to action for which I would probably have been arrested and for which I should confess to Father Bill . . . only I wouldn't confess it. I would brag about it.

[McClef]

The idea sounds great but unless they have people to enforce the regulations with the same deadly efficiency and relish as their parking attendants I doubt that much will change.

[CMcG]

<snip> I don't remember who it was, but the whole statement came down to this; "Only tourists wear kilts and the locals just look down on them".

It might be worth looking for the actual quote because that doesn't sound quite right. I've read the situation to be that most Scots don't wear the kilt as everyday clothing, but rather reserve it for specific occasions. Wearing the kilt outside of those situations in Scotland is mostly done by tourists, which leads people to being treated like... er, tourists

Many years ago I was told that the only place to see a "true" Scot is anywhere outside Scotland. It is amazing how Nationalistic and sentimental we become as soon as we leave our homeland. A lot of Scots who never wore the kilt at home all of a sudden become wearers. This is probably why so many people in the USA and Canada and elsewhere wear kilts and why not so many are seen in Scotland.
<snip>

This is actually quite common among diasporic populations in general. For example, there are various thriving musics, languages, dances, and even martial arts in Canada that have ceased to enjoy popularity in their home countries. Outwith the home country, emigrants need to try harder or else be assimilated to their new location...

That being said, our local Scottish shops don't blast bagpipe music into the streets

The idea sounds great but unless they have people to enforce the regulations with the same deadly efficiency and relish as their parking attendants I doubt that much will change.

If there is a fine associated with enforcing those regulations, then the powers that be will most certainly be efficient because it is good for their coffers!

[Phil]

If there is a fine associated with enforcing those regulations, then the powers that be will most certainly be efficient because it is good for their coffers!

Sadly I think they will only have powers to confiscate the offending sound equipment - so not much recompense there. And only that which is outside their premises according to a spokesman ("Officers will also ensure that no music is played from speakers situated outside of shop fronts."). A quick loudspeaker move methinks.....

On a closely related subject, this appeared in today's paper - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ne...ute.6811576.jp

It seems that Mr Nicholson has an eye for more litigation.

[Dixiecat]

This is actually quite common among diasporic populations in general. For example, there are various thriving musics, languages, dances, and even martial arts in Canada that have ceased to enjoy popularity in their home countries. !

One famous example being Cape Breton Step Dance. Believed to be by many to have originated in the Highlands of Scotland where it has long since died out.

Oh, and to keep this on topic, I'd prefer silence in comparison to blaring loud speakers.