Identity in the Scottish Diaspora

[Jock Scot]

-------- I think that's the same as a North American descendant of Scottish immigrants being called "Scottish".

They are not by many in Scotland.

[Nathan]

Not by many in Scotland they are not.

Try to follow the point, Jock. I have heard people in Scotland refer to descendants from the subcontinent as Asian even though they don't live in Asia and were born in Scotland. Similarly, people in Canada refer to different ethnic groups (Scots descendants included) by their land of origin. I am demonstrating, by way of analogy, that your country also uses this kind of geographic shorthand to describe various communities.

I think people on this forum have explained ad nauseum why this is a natural shorthand that is used to describe different communities in our Country.

I certainly can't stop you from being obstinate on the matter. There is, in English usage, a geographic, civic, cultural as well as ethnic meaning for any country's people and products.

To illustrate this obvious point further, consider this:

Is this guy Scottish?

Calum MacKenzie, born and raised Perth, Ontario, Canada - resides Perth, Ontario, Canada:

Civic definition: No
Geographic definition: No
Ethnic/genealogical definition: Yes
Cultural definition: Yes and No

Kumar Patel, born and raised in Perthshire, Scotland, UK - resides in London, England, UK

Civic definition: Yes
Geographic definition: Yes
Ethnic/genealogical definition: No
Cultural definition: Yes and No

Hugh Sinclair, born and raised Glasgow, Scotland, UK - resides in Glasgow

Civic definition: Yes
Geographic definition: Yes
Ethnic/genealogical definition: Yes
Cultural definition: Yes


If your rebuttal is simply that people in Scotland don't agree, that analysis is equivalent to a schoolyard children saying "no way" - "Yes way".

This thread asked the question of why some diaspora Scots choose to take an interest in and identify with their Scottish heritage.

The answer is because it is indeed their heritage and it provides them with a cultural context in a diverse land. It explains the way they speak, dress, worship, where their people chose to settle and why they have the name they do.

Nobody can stop a native Scot from saying to his diaspora cousin, "You're not actually Scottish by any definition" but that doesn't make the curmudgeon who says it correct nor will it stop the diaspora Scot from continuing to be what he is.