Heritage and Reality!

[Casey]

I think I came to the subject of clans backwards.

I have been fascinated with the kilt ever since I saw my first pipe band. Now, my parents were/are "Canadians" and any discussion of ethnic background or roots was almost, if not, forbidden in our house.

Two years ago, while surfing the web, I came upon a very interesting site: Bearkilts. Wow, a kilt (in Canada) that a regular shmuck could afford. Now choose a tartan! I thought that a little investigation was in order. I soon discovered that, on my mother's side there was a hint of the Gordon clan sliding through Northern Ireland on the way to Canada. On my father's side I found that my family name linked me to the MacGregor clan.

So I started with a Gordon Modern tartan from Bearkilts. Then, an Ancient MacGregor from Burnett's & Struth.

After 7 kilts , and another 2 on order from Bearkilts, anything goes. I even have one of those newfangled Rkilts.

Kilts are a comfortable alternative to pants.

Oh, and yes, trés chic!

[Jimmy Carbomb]

Hey James, ever thought of collaborating with CajunScot to produce an article for XMarks? It could be from the "layman's" and "historians" perspectives. To me, it would be informative and entertaining.

You're both such good writers that it would be a nice addition to the "library".

[macwilkin]

Hey James, ever thought of collaborating with CajunScot to produce an article for XMarks? It could be from the "layman's" and "historians" perspectives. To me, it would be informative and entertaining.

You're both such good writers that it would be a nice addition to the "library".

I cannot speak for James, Jimmy, but I may just take you up on that challenge -- I need to write a column for another Scottish orgnization's newsletter anyway, so this might just kill "twa birds in yin stane", so to speak.
:mrgreen:

I guess the journalism minor came in handy then, eh? ;)

Cheers,

Todd

[Colin]

I cannot speak for James, Jimmy, but I may just take you up on that challenge -- I need to write a column for another Scottish orgnization's newsletter anyway, so this might just kill "twa birds in yin stane", so to speak.
:mrgreen:

I guess the journalism minor came in handy then, eh? ;)

Cheers,

Todd

I would be very interested to read (as I always am) anyhting written by yourself of James, Todd. I find that my opinions tend to lean the same way as you both, and I enjoy the well written intellectual posts from both of you.

Great post James, I would say it is spot on.

[Riverkilt]

My clan heritage was passed on by my grandfather Murdoch when I was a boy and again as a young man. Hard not to have my blood stir at things Scottish.

Yet I am also 1/32nd Irish and there are Welsh lines and English lines in my blood too.

Today, I'm at work kilted with a green Northern Arizona Irish Foundation t shirt and tan UK survival with Arizona State flag patches on the pocket...and green soccer sock pushed down with brown tennies. Honoring the Irish blood today.

My clan came from Uig and later Staffin at the north end of the Trotternish peninsula of Skye...a land also trampled by the Norse and most other invaders of the island. Hard to put a name on what to call my more ancient ancestors. Try to honor them all....even the Palantine Germans that married into my mother's Loyalist lines after the American Revolution.

Ron

[Alan H]

Well written, James. Your viewpoint is a valid one and needs to be expressed.

Historical Fact is, at least hopefully, historical fact, though as pretty much everyone knows, "history" is written by the people who "won".

"History" isn't the same thing as "passion", but yet both are very valid and human things.

I salute your passion, and look forward to reading more about it.

[macwilkin]

"History" isn't the same thing as "passion", but yet both are very valid and human things.

As someone with a degree in history, who teaches history in the classroom and at a Civil War battlefield, and participates in historical activities for fun, I strongly disagree wi' this statement, Alan. ;)

T.

[Archangel]

Well written, James. Your viewpoint is a valid one and needs to be expressed.

Historical Fact is, at least hopefully, historical fact, though as pretty much everyone knows, "history" is written by the people who "won".

"History" isn't the same thing as "passion", but yet both are very valid and human things.

I salute your passion, and look forward to reading more about it.

oh, now you've gone and done it. we'll be having raging discussions over the varied definitions of history. I'm waiting to see how that develops.


(before anyone gets testy, I'm being ironic here)