Rethinking the Black Watch Tartan

**Jack Daw** · 18th April 08, 01:12 PM

Ron;

Although my ancestor was a Jacobite, our clan (MacIntyre) Chief swore loyalty to Campbell of Breadalbane (CoB) because the Chief was married to the Earl's daughter. Also, the Highland poet, Duncan Ban MacIntyre, wore the CoB tartan as a Breadalbane Fencible. As such, I not only have the B.W., I also had a special weave of the CoB tartan made into a kilt. We also had loyalties to the MacDonalds. Our clan provided pipers to the MacD of Ranald and the Menzies of Weems.

**Tattoo Bradley** · 18th April 08, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

The MacLeod Hunting is worn out of respect for Sir Sean Connery and because of the forgive and forget, stop fighting stuff.

Actually you're thinking of the MacLean hunting, Ron. Jock was referring to your MacLeod "Loud MacLeod" USAK semi-trad.

**Frank McGrath** · 18th April 08, 01:30 PM

We can't change history. It is what it is. Live for today. Buy the kilt. Heck, buy me one, too.

Frank

**sharpdressedscot** · 18th April 08, 01:46 PM

This thread makes me want to get a Black Watch, but then I look at my wallet and weep.... (not really, I don't cry)

**beloitpiper** · 18th April 08, 01:53 PM

I'm still not a fan of the Black Watch tartan BUT it's not like I hold a grudge or anything. That's ridiculous. Sure, I tease my Forbes friends about how the Gordons basically took all their land, but there' no hard feelings. It's the same way I don't harbor bad feelings against the South because of the Civil War or England because of the Tea Act during before the Revolution.

I'm living in 2008.

**Riverkilt** · 18th April 08, 01:55 PM

Thanks for catching that Bradley! For sure, think the MacLean's were pretty tight with Clan Donald...and MacLeod I bought just because it IS loud and the perfect tartan for things like Pow Wows and "look at me" occasions in addition to being a distinguished tartan for a neighboring clan of my ancestors.

Ron

**macwilkin** · 18th April 08, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

It's the same way I don't harbor bad feelings against the South because of the Civil War or England because of the Tea Act during before the Revolution.

I'm living in 2008.

Why should you have any bad feelings toward England over the Tea Act? It was the Sons of Liberty that destroyed private property in that little affair, not the English.

T.

**gilmore** · 18th April 08, 02:51 PM

I haven't yet gotten over the burning of the library of Alexandria.

In fact, I can't hear about the Pangaean Drift without getting a lump in my throat.

What should I do?

But seriously... I had an elderly relative who when he was a boy used to spend the summers on the farm of his grandfather, a Confederate veteran. Every morning the old man would pinch the boy's cheek and tell him, "Abraham Lincoln was a son of a bitch and do you ever forget it." And he never did.

I suppose there are two schools of thought. One is that a carefully nursed vendetta can be a thing of joy forever. The other is that there comes a time to get over it, somehow.

(P.S. My nephews no longer come to visit me. They got tired of the daily cheek pinching. Wimps.)

**Jack Daw** · 18th April 08, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I'm still not a fan of the Black Watch tartan BUT it's not like I hold a grudge or anything. That's ridiculous. Sure, I tease my Forbes friends about how the Gordons basically took all their land, but there' no hard feelings. It's the same way I don't harbor bad feelings against the South because of the Civil War or England because of the Tea Act during before the Revolution.

I'm living in 2008.

You haven't mentioned receipt of your WPG Gordon. How's it?

**ccga3359** · 18th April 08, 04:30 PM

Don't buy the Black Watch tartan Ron, take it off of your possibility list. Your Grandfather's hatred and prejudice is still your own. The Black Watch tartan means so much to so many, it's been worn proudly by tens of thousands in numerous wars for so long. It's been worn by those who've died in those wars in the name of freedom. Instead of wearing it to honour those (Macdonalds included) you have, for the past sixty years chosen to ignore it for spite of something that happend over 300 years ago. I find this failing to let go of the acient past mind boggling, Ron you drive a Ford Escape which is a Ford/Mazda platform. An American/Japanese partnership. How easy it is to move on from the unjustified slaughter that happened Dec 7th 1941. Why is it that acts of aggression by one nation against another is accepted whereas the those of a small group of people can never be forgiven? Ron I've always regarded you as an intelligent and inidividual individual but I don't think you're truly ready to move ahead yet. You put great effort in selecting your tartans and you do so to show your respect to an ancestor. Share that same respect with this tartan.