Who doesn't "get it"in your community?

[BronxKilt]

I work in a middle school with a predominantly minority student base. I have found that one on one, the students are either blasé, or just ignore "Crazy Mr. B". In groups, and in the safety of my "six" I can hear young men "cuttin'" or running me down with speculations toward my sexuality and sanity. It is much easier to ignore ignorant homophobes (especially at that age where there is NO talking sense into them) than to play into their hand of causing a scene. The one thing that these students desperately need is attention, and sometimes they are not as discriminating as they could be between negative and positive attention.

Today I received a VERY nice compliment from a young Latina girl, who asked if I had a "checkerboard" kilt and then told me she liked the UK survival better. I also had another young Latina girl, student of mine, chase another student down the hall while defending my kilted choice.

I was also told by a young man, Latino but that really has no bearing, in front of his friends that I should go "change my skirt". The style of dress for youngsters these days is baggy jeans, and "crispy t's" or t-shirts that have very long torsos. My man was kinda short and his Crispy T was about 6 inches above his knees. I pointed out to him (kindly) "where I come from we would call your t-shirt a dress, maybe you want to borrow a shirt that fits?" There was laughter all around, and he went away swearing that he would "Roast" me. (Make fun of me in a public forum during an exchange of insults).

In all, there is no common denominator toward ignorance or intolerance, and the more we chime in, the more exceptions to the rule we can find.

Any day kilted is a winner in my book, don’t matter what they say; you don’t go home with em.

[Panache]

I have found this whole thread rather interesting. With the concepts of masculinity as defined by specific cultures and how kilts are perceived by them. Do clothes make the man? How do we approach those who are completely ignorant of the heritage of the kilt? What does it say about us who choose to wear them? These are great questions.

Concerning masculinity, when I became a stay at home Dad a few years ago I was given a wonderful little story which I will now relate to you.

A famous matador in Madrid was renown for the wonderful dinner parties he hosted. The food he served was said to be absolutely amazing. His home immaculate. Though the bullfighter always served his guests himself, it was assumed he had the best cook and best servants in all of Spain. One day a guest at one of his dinner parties went to the kitchen, to give in person, his compliments to the cook. He found the bullfighter washing the dishes. There was no cook or servants to be seen. The guest asked the matador "did you cook the meal?" The matador nodded. "And you clean up afterwards?" Again the matador nodded. The guest was stunned and said " Sir, you are bullfighter without peer, the epitome of masculinity and strength. Why is it that you do such woman's work?" The matador fixed the guest with a steely gaze and said "Sir, everything I do is masculine!"

[Alan H]

How do we approach those who are completely ignorant of the heritage of the kilt? What does it say about us who choose to wear them? These are great questions.

...and this is where I hope this thread will proceed towards....especially the first question.

How do we approach those who are completely ignorant of the kilt?

In some cases, do nothing. In other cases, attempt some education. In other cases, laugh.

But HOW to do each of those thing? And when?

[CameronTaylor]

Every situation is different and requires a little thought before reaction (some of us are quicker thinkers and that's a good thing).
My friend Chris and I got a disapproving sneer from one guy and his two friends last friday night but later I saw him looking our way and that sneer was nowhere to be found. Strength in numbers maybe ???

"send the big one after 'em, they'll move ..."


CT -

[I M Kilted!]

I don't think "girls" is the right word.

The ladies seem to love the kilt, but as has been previously noted there is no form of life more cruel than a girl in her early-to-mid-teens.

The guys who accompany them talk smack for several reasons: they're insecure in their own sexuality and are afraid that wearing a skirt will make them "gay," they're jealous of the attention you're getting from "their" woman, et cetera.

Most people will just raise one eyebrow and move on rather than make derogatory comments.

sorry...ladies...Many of my friends tell me the exact same thing, I wish more people were "logical" and would actually see wat they are doing...Also, I would like to point out that early on, all the girls go for the bad boys and vice versa, but later on, things change. mabye its just a early teen thing...People in my grade age 11th-12th grade seem to be more receptive, but I would agree that its the "guys who talk smack and their girls" and "uncultured" that seem the most shocked by kilt wearing. Sure, they get a few harsh jabs about being gay/ a cross dresser, but in the end, they always seem

[TechBear]

Only really bad responses were from idiots, some drunk and some not. The most outlandish was a remark from a young goth who said "Ya gotta be real stupid to wear somthin like that in public" while his heavily blackened eyebrows rose and his nose ring glistened in the sun light.

Ya gotta love it when you have Goths calling you a non-conformist :rolleyes: My response to him would have been: Says the guy wearing mascara and black nail polish.

[Southern Breeze]

...and this is where I hope this thread will proceed towards....especially the first question.

How do we approach those who are completely ignorant of the kilt?

In some cases, do nothing. In other cases, attempt some education. In other cases, laugh.

But HOW to do each of those thing? And when?

"The Wolves"

There was grandfather, his little grandson often came
in the evenings to sit at his knee and ask the many
questions that children ask. One day the grandson
came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face.

Grandfather said, "Come, sit, tell me what has happened
today." The child sat and leaned his chin on his
Grandfather's knee. Looking up into the wrinkled, nut
brown face and the kind dark eyes; the child's anger
turned to quiet tears.

The boy said, "I went to the town today, with my father,
to trade the furs he has collected over the past several
months. I was happy to go, because father said that
since I had helped him with the trapping, I could get
something for me. Something that I wanted.

I was so excited to be in the trading post, I have not
been there before. I looked at many things and finally
found a metal knife! It was small, but good size for
me, so father got it for me."

Here the boy laid his head against his grandfather's
knee and became silent. The Grandfather, softly placed
his hand on the boys raven hair and said, "and then
what happened?".

Without lifting his head, the boy said, "I went outside
to wait for father, and to admire my new knife in the
sunlight. Some town boys came by and saw me, they got
all around me and starting saying bad things. They
called me dirty and stupid and said that I should not
have such a fine knife. The largest of these boys,
pushed me back and I fell over one of the other boys.
I dropped my knife and one of them snatched it up and
they all ran away, laughing." Here the boy's anger
returned, "I hate them, I hate them all!"

The Grandfather, with eyes that have seen too much,
lifted his grandson's face so his eyes looked into the
boys. Grandfather said, "let me tell you a story. I
too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that
have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do.
But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy.
It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would
die. I have struggled with these feelings many times.
It is as if there are two wolves inside me, one is
white and one is black.

The White Wolf is good and does no harm. He lives in
harmony with all around him and does not take offense
when no offense was intended. But it will only fight
when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

But, the Black Wolf, is full of anger. The littlest
thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights
everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot
think because his anger and hate are so great. It
is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing.
Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves
inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy, looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes,
and asked "which one wins Grandfather?"

The Grandfather, smiled and said, "The one I feed".

Vicki Smith

If anyone knows the author of this please post it. Thanks

[Kilted KT]

"The Wolves"

There was grandfather, his little grandson often came
in the evenings to sit at his knee and ask the many
questions that children ask. One day the grandson
came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face.

...

If anyone knows the author of this please post it. Thanks

written by Vicki Smith

here is my source: http://www.witandwisdom.org/archive/20050620.htm

[Southern Breeze]

written by Vicki Smith

here is my source: http://www.witandwisdom.org/archive/20050620.htm

Thanks KT. I received it some time ago in my E-Mail and the author wasn't mentioned. I like to give credit where credit is due.

[Riverkilt]

Been my experience that rude people come in all flavors...

My two rudest comments have been from an Anglo lesbian coworker, "So how do you take a dump in that thing?" and a very intoxicated Hispanic panhandler, "Hey Switzerland!" That was as close as he could get to figuring out where kilts come from...he went on from there to be quite rude. My advanced age, having my lady with me, and common sense on the futility of punching out drunks kept me moving away from him. 30 years ago I'd have enjoyed dancing a few rounds with him.

When women embraced pants they got through it. So can we.

Ron