Who Belongs to the Clan?

[ThistleDown]

Because though the twa gentlemen have, I assume, accurately stated the "letter of the law," it does not IN MY OPINION give an accurate picture of the reality of how things are working with the so called "clans" IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE. So while the "letter of the law" is technically true, the "spirit of the law" is what is the reality, more or less anyway and if I've not misused that analogy... I'm certainly not a lawyer. You are of course most welcome to disagree, but without a case study to the contrary I'm not moved by your statement to change my opinion (if that was your aim...?).

Regards,
Wesley

Hmmm, well I don't really want to bring a discussion of the law into this thread, but I will say that Highland culture sees little or no connection between the hereditary tribal and the corporate legal. There are societies of like-minded folk in the Highlands of Scotland ('hurling folk and curling folk and little lambs in ivy'), but they don't take the place of families or tribes/clans even if they call themselves clanthis or clanthat. As a matter of fact, I don't know of any native culture in the world where the corporate supersedes the family. But, of course, I am most willing to be illuminated.

[McElmurry]

From what appears to be an editorial piece posted at The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. I would not take this as the Council's position on the matter but the fact it is on their website suggests such things might be discussed amongst the Chiefs.

Modern genealogical research has shown that few within any clan have a blood relationship with the chief’s family. And many who bear sept surnames find that their ancestors never had any connection with the declared clan or even its territory. Some are now seeking to become clans in their own right with their own chiefs. And surely this should be encouraged. Cumberland destroyed the original clan culture. Scott’s followers turned it into romantic myth and adapted it for their own times. If it has been re-invented once, why should it not be changed again to what people want in this century?

The entire article is here: http://www.clanchiefs.org/article/the-clan-system/

[ThistleDown]

I think this was a pick-up from the Panalba blog and posted in the SCSC site as a viewpoint only. As you said, not a position statement. I don't know who writes the Panalba blog, but I think Panalba Ltd. is still owned in America by Lord Semple of Gathering 2009 fame, and panalba.com is currently for sale. Much in this article is inaccurate or misleading.