Political Thoughts

**Dreadbelly** · 22nd August 05, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by bubba

There are a few basic "rules" of dress that apply if you don't want to look like an ascapee from the clown tent at the circus, but beyond that wear what's comfortable for you. I admit I don't, and never have, followed fashion and I've always dressed casually, at times to the point of barbarity, depending on what I'm doing. The simple answer is dress to suit the activity.

As a "barbarian" my self I take issue with using that word in a negative manner.

Bad press!!! Ugh argh ugh ugh oogah arghle!

**Dreadbelly** · 22nd August 05, 07:22 AM

Oh, and I suspect the clowns will be along shortly Bubba to lodge a complaint and mayhap hit you with a pie.

Be on guard!

**Archangel** · 22nd August 05, 12:11 PM

Now a Canadian citizen, papers and all.

Here's some examples of the political process I've been thinking about.

1) Said to a friend yesterday that I wasn't sure what to wear to the ceremony, my kilt or and Armani suit. He suggested that if I wore the kilt they would send me away thinking I wasn't serious about becoming Canadian. He's a good guy but what is in his thought process that says that wearing an expensive Italian suit represents my intent better? (Armani bought at thrift store, cool deal, believe it.)

2) Wore my kilt, day formal: Argyll jacket, off-white kilt socks, oxfords, button-down collar shirt, no tie...looking good. Court Officer remarked I must be from Scotland, Judge remarked I must be from Scotland, local politician wondered if I might be Irish. Wife noted that of the 70 people being sworn in, I was the only one singled that way. What is the political process that happening here when there were 23 countries represented and some wore cultural clothing?

3) After the ceremony, nice looking blonde stopped and said she loved my kilt. What is the political process that she would stop and do that in front of my wife? That never happens in any other clothes.

4) Stop for celebration at Starbucks with some family and friends. As we were leaving some guy yells out, "Hey, are you Scotch?" What is the process that encourages that kind of a reaction?

After all this my sister-in-law and my wife are discussing how different I am treated when I'm kilted. They've noted it several times now, what we on this forum have all seen and heard (noted another new thread about drive-by yahoos today).

There's a lot of social pressure to conform and we challenge that. We need to support and encourage better than we do. Seems like a lot of us are fully confident of ourselves in most situations, we need to help others have that confidence.

**Colin** · 22nd August 05, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Archangel

Now a Canadian citizen, papers and all.

Here's some examples of the political process I've been thinking about.

1) Said to a friend yesterday that I wasn't sure what to wear to the ceremony, my kilt or and Armani suit. He suggested that if I wore the kilt they would send me away thinking I wasn't serious about becoming Canadian. He's a good guy but what is in his thought process that says that wearing an expensive Italian suit represents my intent better? (Armani bought at thrift store, cool deal, believe it.)

2) Wore my kilt, day formal: Argyll jacket, off-white kilt socks, oxfords, button-down collar shirt, no tie...looking good. Court Officer remarked I must be from Scotland, Judge remarked I must be from Scotland, local politician wondered if I might be Irish. Wife noted that of the 70 people being sworn in, I was the only one singled that way. What is the political process that happening here when there were 23 countries represented and some wore cultural clothing?

3) After the ceremony, nice looking blonde stopped and said she loved my kilt. What is the political process that she would stop and do that in front of my wife? That never happens in any other clothes.

4) Stop for celebration at Starbucks with some family and friends. As we were leaving some guy yells out, "Hey, are you Scotch?" What is the process that encourages that kind of a reaction?

After all this my sister-in-law and my wife are discussing how different I am treated when I'm kilted. They've noted it several times now, what we on this forum have all seen and heard (noted another new thread about drive-by yahoos today).

There's a lot of social pressure to conform and we challenge that. We need to support and encourage better than we do. Seems like a lot of us are fully confident of ourselves in most situations, we need to help others have that confidence.

Congrats on your citizenship!

A friend of mine got sworn in on Canada Day this year. He wore his Canada Customs uniform, and asked that I wear my kilt in his honour (I was wearing it anyway

). It was nice to spend the day mingling with new countrymen (and women).

**Archangel** · 22nd August 05, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by Colin

Congrats on your citizenship!

A friend of mine got sworn in on Canada Day this year. He wore his Canada Customs uniform, and asked that I wear my kilt in his honour (I was wearing it anyway

). It was nice to spend the day mingling with new countrymen (and women).

Thanks, are you saying your friend was in Customs before becoming a citizen? Ironic, he can challenge me at the border but he isn't one yet either. It was a good day, several friends showed up.

**Colin** · 23rd August 05, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by Archangel

Thanks, are you saying your friend was in Customs before becoming a citizen? Ironic, he can challenge me at the border but he isn't one yet either. It was a good day, several friends showed up.

That is correct, but he had to be in the process of obtaining citizenship, had to be a permanent resident, and was a member of the commonwealth (England).

**Blu (Ontario)** · 22nd August 05, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Archangel

Now a Canadian citizen, papers and all.

blu

**Archangel** · 22nd August 05, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by Blu (Ontario)

blu

thanks for the cold ones.

Here's a funny thing I forgot to mention. The seating was in rows and the spectators were along the sides and the back row. After I was seated there were some comments and I could hear one guy pretty loudly. He was the narrator arch-type that is present at these kinds of things. He was saying, "Oh, yeah, Scotland....kilts....they wear those...it's part of their religion."