Would you ever wear a feather in your cap, particularly in the U.S.?

[Alan H]

You know, I've sometimes wondered why the games organizers waste the money. Coming from a family with a number of solists, we have a drawer or two filled with medals. You can't exactly wear them, and everybody I know throws them all in a drawer somewhere. Do they really think pipers and drummers care about the bling? It's all about the AGL on the scoresheet, bay-bee. :P

I have them hanging on my bookshelf, where I bump into them all the time.

Here locally, the SHA sometimes gives out small, useful prizes. For example, at Santa Cruz I won a nice little knife for 2nd that I can wear with my Ren Faire outfit. The !st place guy won a reasonably nice wood-handled sgian dubh. At Monterey I won a nice shot glass with the SHA logo on it, perfect for a few fingers of Aberlour while I sew some pleats. At Ventura, they give the class winners a $35 gift certificate at the Buzz Kidder booth, which is *great*. I got a sporran in 2008 when I won the class and I'm still wearing that sporran.

Save the bluidy medals!!!

[Alan H]

BTW, I wouldn't wear an eagle feather in my bonnet...and I'm aware of the tradition. I have no problem whatsoever in honoring traditions. Many of them have value, and there are *reasons* that certain things are traditional. I get no jolly out of thumbing my nose at tradition.

However.

I have a big problem with people who think they're better than other people, because either by right of birth, or because they've coughed up some bogus geneology, they feel they have the right to stick some feathers in their hat....and then say that those...those...CRETINS who do so without having the credentials...*well*

*huff* (shove nose into the air, right about now)

WE...the privileged, the honorable, the noble, WE are just SO much "better" than all those horrible social frauds.

Yeah. I have a problem with that kind of attitude, and carry little respect for people who think that way, including at least one member of this forum who makes my stomach turn pretty much every time I see anything he writes. I really should put him on ignore, again.

[Tiny]

BTW, I wouldn't wear an eagle feather in my bonnet...and I'm aware of the tradition. I have no problem whatsoever in honoring traditions. Many of them have value, and there are *reasons* that certain things are traditional. I get no jolly out of thumbing my nose at tradition.

However.

I have a big problem with people who think they're better than other people, because either by right of birth, or because they've coughed up some bogus geneology, they feel they have the right to stick some feathers in their hat....and then say that those...those...CRETINS who do so without having the credentials...*well*

*huff* (shove nose into the air, right about now)

WE...the privileged, the honorable, the noble, WE are just SO much "better" than all those horrible social frauds.

Yeah. I have a problem with that kind of attitude, and carry little respect for people who think that way, including at least one member of this forum who makes my stomach turn pretty much every time I see anything he writes. I really should put him on ignore, again.

Aw crud am I on ignore AGAIN?! I really gotta watch what I say.

[macwilkin]

BTW, I wouldn't wear an eagle feather in my bonnet...and I'm aware of the tradition. I have no problem whatsoever in honoring traditions. Many of them have value, and there are *reasons* that certain things are traditional. I get no jolly out of thumbing my nose at tradition.

However.

I have a big problem with people who think they're better than other people, because either by right of birth, or because they've coughed up some bogus geneology, they feel they have the right to stick some feathers in their hat....and then say that those...those...CRETINS who do so without having the credentials...*well*

*huff* (shove nose into the air, right about now)

WE...the privileged, the honorable, the noble, WE are just SO much "better" than all those horrible social frauds.

Yeah. I have a problem with that kind of attitude, and carry little respect for people who think that way, including at least one member of this forum who makes my stomach turn pretty much every time I see anything he writes. I really should put him on ignore, again.

**Devil's Advocate bonnet squarely on**

Of course, reverse snobbery is just as bad, if not worse, because it hides behind the mask of egalitarianism.

Just something to think about. Charging that every armiger hides behind a "bogus genealogy" is a very unfair generalization in my book.

T.

[tripleblessed]

The issue of feathers seems to have raised a lot of hackles around the world with most of the objectors ignoring the fact that wearing eagle feathers was never suggested. It might be helpful if everyone would stop inventing insult where none was intended. I'm not an armiger-no eagle feather. I never served in the Highland or any other regiment. I was at the induction station willing to go. They turned me down on x-rays they took, so no regimental hackles. All other feathers are fair game. I was asked to go to South Africa to do medicine wheels with native American and Zulu elders. I did. Recognizing that I carry a lot of owl energy, my hosts presented me with a local owl feather. It happens to be from a very large owl and is about the size of a turkey or eagle feather. Should I choose to wear it, because my Scots forebears certainly wore feathers whenever they chose, and because it's meaningful TO ME, I most certainly will and any Bozo who THINKS he's a gentleman of greater knowledge and entitlement but is unwilling to come over and find out the relevance before making snide and condescending comments about me has proved himself to be very far from a gentleman and indeed a social fraud himself. My forbears spilled their blood and that of others from Penzance to Inverness, from Dunbar to Galway Bay in the hope their issue would have more freedom than they did. I would very much appreciate it if all refrained from giving the impression their effort was in vain. I haven't worn feathers with Highland yet but if I do, be assured I am no poser, merely someone who loves and honors his roots, owns a feather legally and honorably obtained who chooses to wear it. Come talk to me. My mother taught me a gentleman is one who welcomes and makes comfortable those around him without airs or pretensions. I've been known to fail but I give it my best shot. One of the marks of a leader or one who's in charge is that he does not go into action without all the information available. If you're not going to proceed in that manner, you've proven you're no leader.

[artificer]

Why not the whole feather, Scott? And why not on your apron? This is silver with a lapis lazuli "eye". Much nicer than a cast-off from some bird stuck in your bonnet I think.

Rex

Okay, Rex... You got me. THAT is a beautiful kilt pin.
I'd chose that ANY DAY over some grotty feather.

Wearing something like that would kill two birds with one stone.
I could
a) avoid the hackle 'debackle'
and
b) look smashing (or at least my kilt would) to boot!

[Redbeard J]

I actually wore a very small peacock plume in my fedora when I was married this June.

[Alan H]

**Devil's Advocate bonnet squarely on**

Of course, reverse snobbery is just as bad, if not worse, because it hides behind the mask of egalitarianism.

Just something to think about. Charging that every armiger hides behind a "bogus genealogy" is a very unfair generalization in my book.

T.

I emphatically did not write that, Todd, nor did I imply that "all"...or "many" or even "a few" armigers cobble together bogus geneologies.

You know, I sometimes come down squarely on the side of "tradition"...the "old ways"... and so on. I don't do it a lot, but it does happen. I value history and traditions, and think we all should learn from them. For once...just ONCE, Todd, it would be nice to see you take a look on the other side, as well.

You're a reasonable man, Todd, and I have a hard time believing that even a Proud Royalist like you is all gung ho for the notion that someone who by accident of birth has the right to be a complete JERK about any issue regarding history, geneology heraldry, or for that matter any other topic at all. A jerk is a jerk is a jerk, no matter what fancy titles he may hold or how many feathers he may choose to wear in his cap.

[Alan H]

The issue of feathers seems to have raised a lot of hackles around the world with most of the objectors ignoring the fact that wearing eagle feathers was never suggested. It might be helpful if everyone would stop inventing insult where none was intended. I'm not an armiger-no eagle feather. I never served in the Highland or any other regiment. I was at the induction station willing to go. They turned me down on x-rays they took, so no regimental hackles. All other feathers are fair game. I was asked to go to South Africa to do medicine wheels with native American and Zulu elders. I did. Recognizing that I carry a lot of owl energy, my hosts presented me with a local owl feather. It happens to be from a very large owl and is about the size of a turkey or eagle feather. Should I choose to wear it, because my Scots forebears certainly wore feathers whenever they chose, and because it's meaningful TO ME, I most certainly will and any Bozo who THINKS he's a gentleman of greater knowledge and entitlement but is unwilling to come over and find out the relevance before making snide and condescending comments about me has proved himself to be very far from a gentleman and indeed a social fraud himself. My forbears spilled their blood and that of others from Penzance to Inverness, from Dunbar to Galway Bay in the hope their issue would have more freedom than they did. I would very much appreciate it if all refrained from giving the impression their effort was in vain. I haven't worn feathers with Highland yet but if I do, be assured I am no poser, merely someone who loves and honors his roots, owns a feather legally and honorably obtained who chooses to wear it. Come talk to me. My mother taught me a gentleman is one who welcomes and makes comfortable those around him without airs or pretensions. I've been know to fail but I give it my best shot. One of the marks of a leader or one who's in charge is that he does not go into action without all the information available. If you're not going to proceed in that manner, you've proven you're no leader.

In case you are concerned, I was not referencing you or your post. I rather tend to agree with your mother, BTW. While that's not the only thing that defines "gentleman" it certainly goes a long way in the right direction.

[macwilkin]

I emphatically did not write that, Todd, nor did I imply that "all"...or "many" or even "a few" armigers cobble together bogus geneologies.

Alan -- your exact words:

I have a big problem with people who think they're better than other people, because either by right of birth, or because they've coughed up some bogus geneology, they feel they have the right to stick some feathers in their hat....and then say that those...those...CRETINS who do so without having the credentials...*well*

Those who are armigers by "right of birth" do have the right to "stick some feathers in their hat", according to the customs and traditions of Scots heraldry. I understand what you're trying to say, and believe me, I tend to believe that "We're a' Jock Tamson's Bairns", but on the same token, there is a definite distinction between being unaware and a poseur. Google "McCarthy Mor" or "Prince Michael of Albany" and you'll see what I am referring to.

T.