Born This Way"

[James Hood]

Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta), admittedly a young woman willing to buck the lockstep world we live in, recently wrote a song called, "Born This Way," an expression of her acceptance of "needing" to be different, and is courageously (and mega commercially-successfully) living that out as a 25 year-old adult.

While not a long time member of The Great Rabble," this writer observes a consistent, certain splendid, delightful, independent, eccentric, tolerant "air" in the greater site, suggesting many of us really enjoy being different...

...and ergo, true to ourselves.

Because at least one "something" in us was stimulated by the kilt. Whether of traditional Scottish decent or "other," we seem to have been "born this way."

Thoughts?

[Nick the DSM]

Honestly, being true to oneself is not a new idea, but I think I get what you are saying.

We just do, because we want to.

[Tobus]

I'm not a pop music fan, but I really like that song and the message behind it. I identify with it for the same reasons you mentioned, as I'm sure many of us do. It's a catchy tune, to boot!

[KiltShot]

While not a long time member of The Great Rabble," this writer observes a consistent, certain splendid, delightful, independent, eccentric, tolerant "air" in the greater site, suggesting many of us really enjoy being different...

...and ergo, true to ourselves.

The Kilt did all that to us? Or did we choose the Kilt because of something in all of us?
Describe what you see from your point of view, please.

[AFS1970]

Having grown up going to Scottish games and eventually joining the Saint Andrew's Society, I would say that it was a desire to be similar not different that brought me to the kilt.

[DeWayne Ross]

Hhhmmm... I understand the point in "being different" due to the un-bifurcated garments not being mainstream.

Me thinks it might not apply to all of us though. Some of us may in fact feel a compulsion to belong due to ancestral heritage.

[Peter Crowe]

I pretty much agree with both DeWayne Ross and AFS1970. In my own case I wear the kilt because that was how I was brought up (in Scotland) by my parents and it fitted in with the values of my extended family, but also as a symbol of pride in my origins and heritage. I don't wear my kilt(s) to be different, In fact one of the reasons I don't wear it all the time is because I don't want to be entirely defined as that Scottish guy who wears a kilt. I would rather be defined as that nice/intelligent/decent/good/honest fellow who happens to be a Scotsman and who sometimes wears his kilt.

[Burly Brute]

I think it's less mainstream to be a conformist these days, haha, simply because everyone wants to “be different.” Either way, my personal feelings towards Lady Gaga is that she is most certainly not a lady. Agree or disagree, I think there is a definite cultural trend these days that seems shallow at best and evil (calamity) at worst. And I wear the kilt out of comfort and in a celebratory fashion of my heritage, as well as, to counter the bigotry of America.

[Nighthawk]

First and foremost, I have to say- I love Gaga. I actually don't like that song, though. It's not as aggressive as her other stuff. However... I do like the message, and I agree- I was born this way! As another song says... "And if you don't like me, well, leave me alone!"

[Bugbear]

I don't remember how I was when I was born, and many things shaped and twisted me into who I am today.