Are You Ready to Enlist?

[Hawk]

Wonderful pictures Kyle; thank you for sharing them.


There are leaders and there are followers (and then, of course, there is the rabble), and most soldiers faithfully, do what they're told (US Air Force for me). Aside from history and the whims and directives of their leaders, the Atholl Highlanders serve their cause as much as any 'soldier' and they look pretty good doing it.

Nile

Nile, I do not know any "soldiers" in the US Air Force, just like I do not recall any in the Marines, the Navy, or even the Coasties.....but the essence of your comment remains intact sir.....we veterans are just not all "soldiers"...... :-)

Hawk

[TheOfficialBren]

I suspect that as most of them know one end of a rifle from the other rather better than most of us, that it might be unwise to make too much of their age! Besides, they are a tad younger than their artillery!

Aye to that! My Da turned 70 this year and he's an nimble as men half his age! It must be those Gaelic genes.

[Nathan]

Scottish history and heritage is and has always been extremely political. It's very hard to discuss it without touching on the factions that were involved in the defining moments of the nation without taking notice of the fact that those factions, though less hostile, remain today.

Aside from the obvious clan divisions, one cannot understand Scottish history without grappling with the role of religion, class, language, and geography. These were and are the boundaries that divide the Scots both within and outwith Scotland.

I like Jock's point about being able to disagree without being disagreeable. I think this is the approach that must be taken in such sensitive matters.

As the descendant of cleared Gaelic Jacobite Highlanders, I'll likely have a different perspective on the history and present of Scotland than the aristocratic, Eton educated descendants of a pro-Union, pro-Hanoverian Laird. This is to be expected although I try to look beyond my ancestral bias to gain a more complete and nuanced picture of the events that shaped our history and brought us to where we find ourselves today.

One need only look at the recent history of Ulster to see how divisive and dangerous too great a focus on these divisions can be, however, if one wishes to discuss our collective history in any kind of coherent fashion, it is very difficult to do so whist simultaneously ignoring these everpresent fault lines.

Still, it's also nice to focus on those cultural elements which we all share and to celebrate our kinship rather than to dig up old bones and beat them. I think finding the perfect balance of these is virtually impossible but I think the moderators and community at xmarks do an honourable job at trying. I've been to corners of the world and the internet that are far less respectful and have been forced to excuse myself when conversations were no longer cordial, informative or decent.

I'm also aware that how tolerant one is to these discussions can very greatly based on where one was raised, and the extent to which one has suffered directly as a result of these forces.

[TheOfficialBren]

I can understand and respect the views and opinions expressed here. I also agree that the rabble is a cordial, courteous, and informed bunch.
Do these difisions and factions still exist today? Yes. Are they the militant factions of the past? Well, no. Of course not.

Plus one to Nathan's comment about the history of Ulster. That was truly a tragic episode in the history of the Irish people and (I hope to goodness) the last time that Gaelic peoples will ever take up arms against one another.

As the descendent of Highlanders, Lowlanders, Jacobites and Unionists (on both sides of the border) I can appreciate the struggles of my ancestors. Some of them were forcibly removed during the clearances. Some of them came to America for other reasons. In the end (in my own family's case) they left the Old World struggles behind in order to build a new life in a new nation.

As a member of the diaspora we look toward Alba to remind us where we came from...but we live removed from so much that has happened since then.

Thank you, rabble, for being gracious in assisting those of us who are new to many of these concepts, ideas, and cultural traditions that were lost from us to rekindle the desire to better-understand.

Let the dead rest and let the wounds heal but remember the mistakes of the past so they are not repeated.


Peace, love, and prosperity to all.

[Jock Scot]

Actually Nathan, you are crediting me with more word skills than I possess. I cannot remember the member's name who first wrote those wise words about "disagreeing without being disagreeable", but those words are very relevant to life in general and websites such as this one in particular.