Samll mindedness

**Laird_M** · 21st February 12, 05:22 AM

A couple of months ago we moved into a new building and I met a lady with a lovely Scottish accent.
To begin with she was very friendly and we spoke about kilts, Scottish sweets and food, etc.

For some reason she now seems to have decided that as our family celebrate Burns and St Andrew's Tide, wear the plaid, etc., that as I wasn't actually born in Scotland thanks to dad not taking a job in Edinburgh but in Kent, that as we're 'more Scottish' than her family is, to totally blank me everytime she sees me now or glare at me.

Its always amazes me how small minded some people can be. Rather than accepting that people can admire and immerse themselves in another culture, they get all huffy if you're more "x" than they are.

How few of us on here were actually born in Scotland? How many of us on here weren't born there, but have links or just a love of the culture, etc.?

Even the UK government have now decided that 'nationality' is now a state of mind and not what it says on your birth certificate.

Its not going to change me one bit but wondered if anyone else has come across this?

**thecompaqguy** · 21st February 12, 05:32 AM

I've had numerous battles against me wearing the kilt

but like most Jamaicans I have a Scottish surname (Ferguson) it only changed due to old Adoption laws to something more English. I have relatives living in Scotland, and I live in an area of North London called Scotland Green, and do contract work for the police at Scotland Yard. Proof enough for me

If she's got an issue with you wearing the kilt, best be rid of her, IMHO

**Father Bill** · 21st February 12, 05:32 AM

Sadly, only on XMarks, but it may depend on how one does it too.

**Rab** · 21st February 12, 05:52 AM

I work with a lad from Aberdeen who'd love to be american, he loves the culture, food , country and especially the sports. He's a mad vikings fan.

If you want to be Scottish (and who wouldnt) then go for it

**Piipriker** · 21st February 12, 06:22 AM

On this premises, only Greeks should take part in the Olympic Games

**Mither Tap** · 21st February 12, 06:28 AM

Im afraid that you come across ignorance and small-mindedness in all walks of life. I think its better to accept this as fact and dont let it get you down.

At the end of the day it it is this lady who has missed out on the opportunity to re-discover some traditions that her family may previously (or may not) have celebrated etc.

Burns night is not big in all parts of scotland but that is not to say a person couldnt adopt it as a "new" tradition simply for enjoyments sake.

Chris S

Chris S

**Father Bill** · 21st February 12, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by Piipriker

On this premises, only Greeks should take part in the Olympic Games

*** Well said.

**ForresterModern** · 21st February 12, 07:02 AM

In my paternal line my nearest Scottish relative is likely about 25 generations ago, originally of Flemish descent (part of the Norman invasion), and even once settled in Scotland they were Borderers at that, most likely loosely aligned with the Douglas Clan, and not even formally a clan of their own until the American diaspora started the Clan Forrester in the 1960's (new original tartans and all), probably not even recognized by the Scots as such (and we have no clan chief, or really any decent candidates). There are probably other branch lines that may have more recent scottish contributions to my bloodlines.

Am I Scottish? nope, American through and through, at least 13 generations worth, although I do have distant scottish heritage and my surname is of Scottish derivation, and we now have a formal clan, well and I just enjoy wearing the kilt because of it. I am not sure just exactly what your contact's issues are with how much "scottishness" one must have to be able to demonstrate their own level of interest in the cultural attire and customs of Scotland. I know that some recent, heated and controversial threads of late here have addressed differences in how native scots, and highlanders, might feel about this and not entirely understand how the diaspora might feel or desire to incorporate that heritage into their own lives. Understanding can only come from education, one side being open to it and the other willing to be patient enough to teach the first how they see the relationships and importance to them, but that in no way guarantees that each party will come to the same endpoint or walk away from the discussions with a changed and more similar viewpoint or with simply their original one unchanged. To each his own in that regard. I pay respect to those with knowledge and experience in those things in which I am interested and who respect me for that interest, a commensal relationship for each party. But those who simply look down their noses hardly ever really see farther than the end of their noses in reality, and this woman seems to fit that bill.

jeff