While I do understand the desire to belong to something bigger, I have to agree with both Phil and Cessna. It is a bit of myopic nostalgia at times, a longing for a society that never really was. The situation is much the same in Ireland to a far lesser degree. The clan system broke down earlier there and the chiefs fled en masse, thus paving the way for a truly miserable future for most of the country. As a result, the attitude of many an Irishman towards his chief for the past three hundred plus years has often been indifference or hostility. Many of these chiefs moved to continental Europe and enjoyed prestigious positions in both military and civil positions within their country of choice, never turning a glance to Ireland again.

Scotland is a bit different, of course, as many chiefs 'cashed in and sold out' to became absentee landowners living a life of leisure in London, but I'm sure the attitudes of their former clansmen were no different than those of their Gaelic cousins in Ireland.

So, once again, I do understand the need to belong a larger group. I do like the idea of clan societies, especially if organised along more democratic lines. I just personally don't like the pseudo-feudal idea of elevating someone to a lofty position that I don't feel they have earned. In the 'auld days' the chieftaincy was not always passed from eldest son to eldest son. If the clan system had survived in its original form, it is unlikely that many of these people would even be chiefs today!

To each his own. I'm not criticising anyone, just offering my personal opinion.