I'm amazed at you people

[Mark Stephenson]

A while back someone posted the following. It pretty much expresses why I, as an American of Scottish descent wears the kilt:
" I wear the kilt to honor my forebears and (as a veteran) for all those whom have died wearing the kilt far away from home serving something greater than just themselves. I consider the kilt the physical embodiment of my family legacy. When I wear the kilt, it's as if my ancestors are walking along side me."

[gary meakin]

Richard,
I see a lot of people responding here and justifying why they wear the kilt and how they feel about it.
This is not necessary.
This is a kilt site.
We talk about kilts.
If you don't want to, you probably shouldn't be here.
I belong to a hiker's site as well.
Please don't go over there and start asking why people are getting so excited about taking a walk.

[cessna152towser]

This is a kilt site.
We talk about kilts.

Yes indeed and that includes talking about why we wear the kilt and how we feel about it.
In starting this thread Richard expressed his own opinion with which not everyone will agree, but in starting this thread he also exhibited a desire to open the subject for discussion. I am sure Richard wants to talk about kilts as much as the rest of us, and is keen to learn why people from nations other than his own choose to wear kilts, that is probably why he has chosen to be here.

[opositive]

for me, one of the good things about these threads is that i do reconsider "why," and the answer has changed over time--but not whether i like them.

having a discussion is about testing, which sometimes means putting up a flag to see how other respond to help you to decide if you really want to salute it yourself. unfortunately, the exercise does not always work as well on the internet as it does face to face.

[CMcG]

on how you treat your kilts, I think some of you act as if is some sort of God

<snip>

it's an article of clothing and nothing more

<snip>

you feel left out and away from Scotland and you put on an act more so than people that actual live in Scotland.

I'm going to try to give you the benefit of the doubt and imagine that you aren't trying to take the piss out of people. From that perspective, I will agree that The Rabble are an amazing bunch of folks

New converts tend to be the most fervent and many Xmarkers are (relatively) new to kilts. It is also a fairly common occurrence that diasporic peoples emphasize their heritage in ways that differ from their country of origin. Often, these displays can be exaggerated in the face of potential assimilation and essentialized when only parts of a culture survive (or are revived) in the new environment.

Kilt wearing, as a phenomenon, is an amazing example of transnational, cultural dialogue. These sorts of situations are rarely without tension.

To be fair though, there are also many Scots, in Scotland, who are prone to "acting up" when they don the kilt. Ever heard of the Tartan Army?

There are also Scots who view the kilt as much more than just a piece of clothing, rather they see it as one of the great symbols of their nation...

Sorry I didn't mean to start a fight, maybe I'm not so patriotic as you people and didn't not intend to offend anybody.

If you didn't not intend to offend anybody, then perhaps I was too quick to give you the benefit of the doubt.

[tundramanq]

Richard, your post is a good starter for a good discussion here. I have thought at times that a simple like button similar to facebooks would be nice. But we would miss out on the "why" someone likes or dislikes something said here and no one will really benefit from others insights.

[Dangerdean]

The kilt is an interesting variation of skirted male clothing. I don't doubt the the sarong wearers are any less caring about their versions. Do they also have family, social and political colors and patterns? - probably.

I don't know about sarongs, but there are definite meanings to some colours of the lungi, the MUG worn in South India. A white shirt worn with a white lungi is indicative of Tamil pride, whereas you see a ton of orange lungis worn in December when there's a big Shiva festival. I'm sure there are other meanings to other colours...dude wouldn't sell me a red lungi, for instance, but non-Indians certainly wear the garment.

[robthehiker]

Richard,
I see a lot of people responding here and justifying why they wear the kilt and how they feel about it.
This is not necessary.
This is a kilt site.
We talk about kilts.
If you don't want to, you probably shouldn't be here.
I belong to a hiker's site as well.
Please don't go over there and start asking why people are getting so excited about taking a walk.

This.

And hiking.

[lukeyrobertson]

Well I think this a great thread. It' provocative enough to generate an honest discussion about the purpose, meaning and greater significance of the garment we know as "kilt". Already nearly fifty posts, so that says something. There is a continuum of fervancy, experience, knowledge, fun, humour and seriousness-about- meaning on this forum as it discusses, debates and muses over the wearing of the kilt, and all of this across oceans and continents. I think it's fascinating to see from all parts of the world how the kilt is worn, what the rationale is for wearing it, and what it really means from person to person and context to context. That be the strength of this forum. Yes, at times the conversation is heated, strained and holding on for all it's worth so things don't completely fly apart, but to me at least it appears that the kilt stirs passionate responses from some rather deep-seated places like heritage, ancestors, regiments for example on the one hand, all the way to a statement about "who I am", what I like, and how I choose to express myself in fashion on the other hand and everywhere inbetween! Really!

So Richard and Rabble, great thread along with some very gentlemanly respect. I've observed on this Forum that fervancy can lead to OCD-like behaviours regarding the kilt and even some over-done revering of the garment, but I think that for the most on this forum the decision to become kilted is based on serious and careful thought (most want to be respectful of the kilt and wear it properly) plus a certain amount courage/bravery to actually get out and do it!

For me personally, my tartan clan kilts are worn for special occasions, often to church and whenever it feels appropriate. They are not worn casually like jeans (I have a non-tartan kilt for that purpose). I also have a tweed which I will wear to the office occasionally when I want to be a little dressier. In the end, I tend to go with the wisdom from Erskine that says, "Highland dress is essentially free dress--that is a man's taste and circumstances must alone be permitted to decide when and where and how he should wear it."

[tundramanq]

Hee Hee - If the grain of sand didnt irritate the oyster we would'nt have pearls.