Offended in Houston

[GMan]

I wouldn't let it bother me. I'd just say nothing, act normally and treat her normally and above all continue to wear that kilt.
Cultural diversity is a thing we must all accept. At best the lady didn't know the name for a kilt so she called it a skirt; at worst she's lacking in social skills.
As she's an Indonesian living in America there is every likelihood she could have been bought as a bride by some ageing western gentleman - a practice which some people may consider abhorrent and akin to prostitution - but in an age of multicultural diversity it is accepted that poor families in Indonesia often sell their daughters into marriage but we wouldn't ask her if that was her own situation nor we wouldn't treat her any differently from a bride of western birth.

Sage wisdom to heed.

[Perldog007]

It is strange how some who demand tolerance for their culture are so quick to deny that tolerance to others. Wear your kilt proudly. When you feel good about yourself you will do the right thing.

-- Doug

[pipesndrumsnun]

DO wear your kilt, and DO be the most amazingly kind and wonderful person anyone could ever hope to meet!

[Rusty]

Brad, if you wear your kilt on Friday and give a presentation, undoubtedly there will be questions about your form of dress. Use this opportunity to gently educates the ignorant.

[macwilkin]

Brad, if you wear your kilt on Friday and give a presentation, undoubtedly there will be questions about your form of dress. Use this opportunity to gently educates the ignorant.

And be sure to mention how there are Scottish societies, Burns Suppers and Highland Games held around the globe -- for example, the Jakarta, Indonesia Highland Games and the Java St. Andrew's Society, which was founded in 1919.

http://www.jakartahighlandgathering.com/

http://www.javastandrewsociety.com/aboutus.php

Cheers,

Todd

[davedove]

We have to be careful about jumping to conclusions here though. I didn't see anywhere in his conversation where she is defending the traditional male garment of her country. A lot of you just assumed she would. She might not like that either, or at least not out of a celebration of some sort.

Maybe she just doesn't like to see a skirt like garment on a man. That would certainly be her right. After all, a lot of men (and women) don't like to see women in pants.

[Stewart Rendall]

Perhaps the piper's kilt just wasn't very good. She may well be in awe of Bradley's!
Look forward to hearing about the reactions.

[mbhandy]

Com'on guys we are talking lab techs. They are not uneducated people? Maybe she was trying to get a rise out of you? Like diping pigtails in the inkwell. Just ask her if she was serious about her statement and then inform her about the tradition of the Kilt and Scottish Culture. Oh yea and eating Haggis
I'm sure there are other people of Scottish decent in the class and when you get the Question I am sure you have all the responsives ready... If she is Buddhist---- How about those Monks? Or the flowing robes of the Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktum, the ruler of Dubai and the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates?



Or is that to religious. Gandi? in his home spun?
Get my Drift?

MrBill

[Panache]

...Well, there was an Indonesian girl at our table who chimes in with "yeah, the bagpipes didn't bother me. But, I was disturbed at the fact he wore a skirt. What's it called? That scottish man skirt thing?..."

My reply would have been

"It's called a kilt Miss, I'm sorry to hear you find them disturbing. There are many who find them not only handsome, masculine, and a symbol of their Scottish heritage, but very comfortable as well. I own several and wear them with pride. Would you be so kind as to pass the coffee?"

Cheers

Jamie

[demobud]

Could she possibly have been trying to make a joke? I have run into cross cultural situations where an attempt at hmor didn't transcend and it created an awkward moment ot two. ON the other hand she simply might just object to men being unbifurcated.