No longer a question specifically for Jock

[A Lenape Scot]

Steve,
X marks the Scot.
"Hank thought it was a catchy play on words. And it is."
No, it isn't. And it is exceedingly offensive to Scots.
"X" seems to mark historical re-enactors, peacock fashionistas, possibly some of minority sexual inclinations, those with stitching skills, people dreaming of mythical roots, social climbers who have shaken hands with their "chief", those who think the kilt has to do with weapons or armed service, women writing racy novels about Highland hunks, genealogists, Gaelic learners, etc., etc....... And a very few very patient Scots whose patience may simply be running out. Of course it is great to have the diversity. But many members, moderators and yourself seem so easily to lose track of the reality of who started it all and what it's really all about. And there is very little can be done to increase your understanding because you are simply ... not Scots.
Alan

Ouch!,

I can feel some great animosity from your statement. In the United States most people suffer from cultural deficit disorder. When a person has lost touch with a culture that identifies them as part of a larger group they are lost. They feel an empty void without it. In the US the one thing that was uniquely American, Native culture, was nearly destroyed. Later, the hippies and newagers tried to assume Native culture without any connection through ancestry. They seemed to be reaching out for a culture to feel a part of. Some of them watered it down and wrote books that were outright lies about American Indian culture. Most American Indians decided to no longer share their culture out of fear of it being misused. The result is that most Americans now learn about native culture from less than credible sources. I see this as a disservice to the native people because what people believe about them is often a lie. I hate to see this happen to any culture.

I think that after 237 years of attempting to identify itself, there still is not an American identity. Everything we do seems to relate back to a different country of origin unless you happen to be an American Indian. I do not think we can have a true identity/culture yet since we are such a young country. I believe Scotland had the same problem early on when it had Gaelic, Pictish, Viking, and Normans all in the same country.

Therefore many hold on to their ancestor's culture to give them an identity. Unfortunately some people do not understand what the culture is like in the "real country" and believe in stereotypes from TV, books, and people. The more people believe these sources, the more watered down the culture becomes outside of Scotland. I think that people should look to the those in the country of their ancestors for guidance. I do not see how it helps to hold up a high and mighty attitude and things like you are not Scots so you can never understand. This is like my father and all his friends who went to Vietnam saying that you "You didn't go so you wouldn't know." They made sure that no one could understand them and held onto that like a badge of honor. That creates division that does not help. It makes others feel like you have no respect for them or that they are lesser than you. How about trying to help others understand rather than just creating a dividing line.

I would like to see these things continue to take place on this forum:

Members still look the real Scots for guidance on their culture.

Real Scots continue to contribute.

Members respect the guidance the real Scots give.

Members be allowed to post things about Scottish culture even if it does not pertain to the kilt. I believe this has been allowed in the correct locations. Clothing is nothing more than furniture of the mind which we use to let the world know what we represent so the culture goes hand in hand. If we do not represent the culture and the clothing correctly we are doing a disservice to our ancestors, our bothers and sisters in culture, and ourselves.