Wearing kilts as a mark of respect

[sydnie7]

I think what you are referring to is not too much of a focus on history as it is a lack of understanding it, or perhaps worse, a manipulation of it to suit one's own ends. Pride in who we are and where we came from should not be confused with belligerence, ethnic cleansing, or any form of hatred toward others who do not share our heritage. It is possible to praise one without insulting another.

Respectfully,
David

And recognizing that the people living in England today are not the ones who banned the kilt 250 years ago (they are not the Crusaders, either).

[macwilkin]

I think what you are referring to is not too much of a focus on history as it is a lack of understanding it, or perhaps worse, a manipulation of it to suit one's own ends. Pride in who we are and where we came from should not be confused with belligerence, ethnic cleansing, or any form of hatred toward others who do not share our heritage. It is possible to praise one without insulting another.

Respectfully,
David

Hear, hear.

Well said, David.

T.

[CelticRanger66]

Very Well said David!!!!!

[DireStraitsFan]

He asked a question. I answered it. If he'd meant, "Do you understand where I'm coming from (and don't respond if you take exception)?" I'm sure that's what he would've posted. I mean, really; he's out to get a rich variety of opinions here, right? How boring if everyone just writes back a bunch of good-on-ya's and me-too's.

Bravo, sir!

[Kiltman]

I understand where you're coming from. It's not my place, but I agree that if one needs a reasons to wear a kilt it will do.

[Marshal Moroni]

Kilted for comfort, for fun, for the comments I enjoy (not the snide ones I ignore), the reaction of others (just got back a couple of days ago from Yosemite National Park, what fun I had in my kilts, had a fellow ask if he could have his picture taken with me, just because I was kilted, now that doesn't happen every day!), for pride, for individualism,
for swish, swagger, swing, spring, and swoon.

And of course, because I can!

Cheers,

Marshal Moroni

[Stratherrick]

ccga3359

Yet you live in the land of the oppressor...

I realise that my people are not oppressed as they once were. So, to that extent, I have no beef with the English these days, other than I'd rather Scotland were a totally independent nation. The fact that I live where I do is because of my first marriage and that my kids live here. When they've all flown the nest, it'll be over the border for me!

kiltedsawyer
Kilted Samurai Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hoschton, GA
Posts: 123

History

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry124
Not only Scots.

The problems in the Middle East and the Balkans for instance appear to be pretty clear examples of the danger of too much of a focus on History as a basis for current behavior.

I think what you are referring to is not too much of a focus on history as it is a lack of understanding it, or perhaps worse, a manipulation of it to suit one's own ends. Pride in who we are and where we came from should not be confused with belligerence, ethnic cleansing, or any form of hatred toward others who do not share our heritage. It is possible to praise one without insulting another.

Respectfully,
David

David, I couldn't agree more! The events following Culloden were not ethnic cleansing on a mass scale, more the usual sort of rape and pillage of the victors in a war as had gone on for millennia. The fact that the government forces DID go through my family's glen, however, and rape the women, burn down the crofts and drive off their cattle, though, was no mere circumstance. In large part it was a planned exercise to rid the families of those who fell on Prince Charlie's side of their means of a livelihood.

The fact that Stratherrick, my home glen, is but a short walk from Culloden was the reason Prince Charlie headed there after the battle and nearly got caught at Gorthleck Farm, where some of my family live TO THIS DAY! If ANY glen was gonna get burnt out, emasculated of its cattle and the women savagely put to shame, then Stratherrick was it! It had been the source of Fraser fighting men for centuries and was, therefore, a prime target for the Butcher Cumberland!

Like many have said I, too, think it's dangerous to carry battles forward from times past. I nearly died when I lived in London in the late 70s-early 80s due to IRA bombs, so I don't need any reminding that you have to choose your causes well. I have no animosity towards the English - how could I, I was born on the English south coast (it was my grandad that was the last one born over the border)!

What I do feel strongly about, though, is that a culture, that of the Highland Scot, was systematically proscribed for long enough that one of the tenets of that prohibition is felt to this day, in that Scot's Gaelic struggles to move forward from a small, remnant base of speakers. Thankfully, plaid/tartan, kilts as we wear them now and the pipes have been resurrected and go from strength to strength.

And if you want one example of why all this hits home with me, here's a quick story:

About 3-4 years ago I was visiting some distant cousins up in the glens outside Inverness, one of whom I had just been introduced to was in his 90s. He was very frail and needed things repeated to him every 10 minutes or so as his short-term memory was poor. I explained a few times that my great-grandfather had been the last of the factors (head overseer) in the glen and had died in 1916. This old boy, Ewan (Yonie) said that he had heard his own mother talk about factor Thomas Fraser and that his mum said he was well thought of, always looking out for the tenant farmers and personally caring for those who might have fallen on hard times out of his own pocket.

As I was going to leave, he turned to his wife and said, “Ella, isn’t it a fine thing, that the great-grandson of the great Thomas Fraser…has…(and now he started to cry)…come home…

You see, to me, the blood IS strong after nearly 100 years away from my family’s roots. Things from the past, whether people, places or things matter to Highland folk, however distant you’ve become yourself. I’d expect an equally warm welcome for any of you visiting the old homelands, including those with no connection at all but who acknowledge the place the kilt has, not just in folk memory, but in life as it is today.

So, enough of my reminiscing, and away with any anti-English talk as I’ll not stand for that either! Onwards, together, kilted up and swinging and springing into the 21st Century version of kilt-wearing!

Cheers

Bruce

[McMurdo]

Gents
Please remember that we refrain from political discussions, lets try to steer this one back on course.

[Stratherrick]

No fear, McMurdo!

I only meant the thread to be political with a very small 'p', at most.

Sure, my main reason for wearing my kilt can have echoes in other quarters, but this is not the place to get all feisty. Wrongs have been done down the ages across all cultures, I just like showing my distaste/rebellion against such attrocities in a simple fashion, by wrapping my disgust around my waist!

I've enjoyed others' replies so far, especially those that have markedly different reasons for donning their tartan. I struggle, at times, to see beyond my approach and this forum is already making me think more broadly.

Cheers

Bruce

[McMurdo]

We do not make distinctions between a lower case "p" political and a upper case "P" Political thread, the rule is no political threads

Therefore this thread is now closed