Thought and Ideas

[hospitaller]

oh not...not another one of these 'military tartans' (that are not official) and 'can' we wear them....

if you already believe it doesnt matter....then why ask around and not simply go with your own instinct?

99.99% of the people have no clue what is a kilt in the first place, let alone what a specific tartan is, so the old argument that 'people will see you wearing so and so tartan and assume you've served' is a long stretch.

no offense, it's just that there has been a flurry of this sort of posts lately and it is getting a bit old for my taste. you know, the whole 'unofficial military tartans and pretending to have served' thing.

[Highland Logan]

... pretending to have served' thing.

You lost me here... what is it you are trying to convey?

Frank

[macwilkin]

All right gents...as my good friend Peter K., ex-Chief Stoker, Royal Australian Navy used to say, "We can agree to disagree without being disagreeable. Back to your corners and take a deep breath.

If this continues, the thread will be closed.

T.

[Mair of the Tribe of Mar]

Friends,

Let me make myself clear, I personally feel that to wear a tartan of a branch that I had not served would be an offense. I would never think of wearing the Leatherneck Tartan, I do respect the Marines for the service they provide but I have never wanted to be a member of the corp.

pretending to have served thing.

And as mentioned at the beginning of the post, I have no intention of pretending to have served in the army, my grandfather had, and I plan on doing so when I am finished with school. My question was not whether it was inappropriate to wear the tartan, the military branch tartans I have a high respect for. I was asking for opinions if it would be appropriate to perhaps, "jump the gun" if you will.

My apologies if there was any confusion of my intent.

Peace and Harmony,
Jason

[hospitaller]

I was asking for opinions if it would be appropriate to perhaps, "jump the gun" if you will.

My apologies if there was any confusion of my intent.

Peace and Harmony,
Jason

Jason,

rest assured I was not implying you are 'pretending to have served' or anything like it.

Simply stating that lately that seems to be the prototypical excuse or reason people here give for people NOT to wear these comercially made, unofficial 'military' tartans.

You know 'I dont want people think im pretending', or 'dont do it so people dont think you're pretending', and so on.

This is something that has been bothering me for a while, since a personal experience with a totally unrelated item of clothing I was wearing and I got the same attitude by two fellows.

First, these tartans we're talking about are NOT military tartans, as they are not used or sanctioned in any official capacity by any US branch (as I assume you are a US guy living in the US), then 99.99% of people serving DO NOT wear said tartan, and 99.99% of regular folks have no clue what the tartan is in the first place.

Some of these 'service' tartans were created by a kiltmaker, or a fabric manufacturer, a few maybe designed by someone who was in the military, and that is the extent of it.

Something that I will remind you all, again, is that several members here are not US citizens, have not served in any US military branch, and live in other countries so have no attachment or connection.

Just as some folks here in the US wear tartans of isles in Scotland without any more attachment than a distant relative 40 generations ago, etc.

My point and my opinion is, if you want to wear a tartan you have ties to, of course you're allowed.

If you want to wear a tartan you like, unless is legally out of bounds (royal tartans) then feel free to wear them.

If somebody wants to be or feel offended...then it is their problem, not yours.

It's as if someone from Isle of Skye would be offended because a yank is wearing the tartan while visiting the Isle.

Again, specially when we're talking about comercially made/designed 'military' tartans, not real ones.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

If somebody wants to be or feel offended...then it is their problem, not yours.

A gentleman never gives offense, unintentionally.

[Larry124]

"No man lives without jostling and being jostled; in all ways he has to elbow himself through the world, giving and receiving offense."—Thomas Carlyle

[george7]

I think we should hold true to wearing tartans as intended; to visually represent an group or philosophy. I wouldn't wear an army tartan since I haven't served in that branch. Tartan is heritage and tradition.

[RockyR]

Without trying to "stir the pot", I ask honest and open questions... Please try to remain respectful of each other and each other's opinions as we discuss this...

I understand and agree that someone who has not served should NOT wear any medals or other part of the official dress uniform. HOWEVER, does that hold true for the rest of the "outfits"?

If someone is wearing fatigues, should they have served?

If someone is wearing an "US Army" t-shirt or a "Marine Corps" t-shirt, should they have served?

What if their Son / Brother is serving and wearing the shirt is showing their support for him?

What about having a bumper sticker for USMC on a non-USMC person's vehicle?

As an "unofficial" tartan (having not been approved by any branch of the service), where do the military tartans fit in this?

I'm curious where people "draw the line" in these kinds of scenarios... Again, please feel free to state your opinion, but don't bash others for theirs.

[hospitaller]

As an "onofficial" tartan (having not been approved by any branch of the service), where do the military tartans fit in this?

I'm curious where people "draw the line" in these kinds of scenarios... Again, please feel free to state your opinion, but don't bash others for theirs.

EXACTLY!

usually the people throwing a fit at people 'pretending to be military' are the ones wearing cammo pants, or military style hats, or jackets, etc.

I guess I'll say it again, unofficial, non sanctioned tartans that were comercially designed/made using the monicker 'military' is something I'd have no problems wearing if it is a combo I like, so far the only one I like/own is the leatherneck.

Now, don't get me started on balmoral hats and morons giving me a hard time because they thought it was a Ranger beret....for gawd's sake.

'all hail the legions!'