Scots-Irish

[SlackerDrummer]

You might also want to take note that the prevailing term these days is Scots-Irish rather than Scotch-Irish (Scotch being an adult beverage and a trademarked brand of 3M tape).

But that's just politically correct backlash.

[Blackrose87]

After googling a few articles about Scots/Scotch, it appears the in regards to Scotland it's only Scotch when referring to a specific product; whisky, Sellotape etc.
But in regards to Ulster-Scots they can be used interchangeable and really just depend on the speaker and context.

But it's all semantics really. I wudnae fash yersel wi thon!

[McElmurry]

But it's all semantics really. I wudnae fash yersel wi thon!

I try not to flash myself at all.

[Blackrose87]

I try not to flash myself at all.

It means worry/trouble

[Peter Crowe]

I try not to flash myself at all.

Don't be embarrassed it's fash not flash, which as Blackrose87 stated is the Scots for worry/bother/trouble.

[Bugbear]

Has anyone read, War on the Run: The Epic Story Of Robert Rogers and the Conquest of America's First Frontier, by John F. Ross (Random House, 2009), and is it worth reading?

It looks like Rogers's parents were Scots-Irish immigrants, so might have some related information.

[Blackrose87]

Sorry if I'm being a bit slow here, I'm just trying to learn! But I do t think anyone has pointed out the distinct differences in culture between Scots-Americans and Scotch-Irish-Americans.
Is there any differences? Or are Scotch-Irish now basically Scots in America?

[SlackerDrummer]

Sorry if I'm being a bit slow here, I'm just trying to learn! But I do t think anyone has pointed out the distinct differences in culture between Scots-Americans and Scotch-Irish-Americans.
Is there any differences? Or are Scotch-Irish now basically Scots in America?

I would venture to guess that the large majority of Scotch-Irish (now largely intermarried with a variety of other ethnic-Americans) are not those attending Highland Games, etc. They are, at this point, just Americans. There may be some who embrace the Scottish-American scene, some who embrace the Irish-American scene, but I'd be willing to bet they are the exceptions to the rule. No one in my extended family, even among those interested in genealogy, is interested in either culture. I stopped playing punk rock and started playing in a pipe band about age 30 and since then my immediate family has become interested in the Scottish-American cultural scene, but that's as far as it goes (family lore aside). They have all (the Scotch-Irish lines) been Presbyterians, however, since they came to the colonies.

[McElmurry]

Sorry if I'm being a bit slow here, I'm just trying to learn! But I do t think anyone has pointed out the distinct differences in culture between Scots-Americans and Scotch-Irish-Americans.
Is there any differences? Or are Scotch-Irish now basically Scots in America?

This is a west coast perspective. Things may be different in the Ozarks or Texas or....

As lived on a day to day basis there is virtually no difference in culture assuming they have both been here 150 years or so. Scottish-Americans may play the pipes, do heavy athletics, wear the kilt in a traditional manner, and belong to the Saint Andrews Society. There is no equivalent for the Ulster-Scot-American other than the few Orange Lodges you pointed out. Some Ulster-Scot-Americans may adopt the culture of the Scots mentioned above.

When I was growing up there were a lot of western shows on TV. The vast majority of the cowboys and townsfolk were a mixture of English and Scotch-Irish. They were the quintessential American pioneer. For a bit of color the writers might throw in a Swede or a Scot or a French trapper with a bit of an accent.

Put another way. The Scots-Irish mixed with the English settlers are the lettuce in the salad bowl of US multiculturalism. They are the white pallet upon which the collage of multiculturalism is painted. They are the grout that supports and holds together the mosaic. Their government sees them as non-Hispanic white. They are un-ethnic.

[Blackrose87]

Very interesting posts. I suppose this forum gives a biased view on the American public. I'm starting to get the impression maybe Scots/Scotch-Irish/Irish/whatever heritage and culture arent as important aren't as to the majority of people as I previously thought.

Put another way. The Scots-Irish mixed with the English settlers are the lettuce in the salad bowl of US multiculturalism. They are the white pallet upon which the collage of multiculturalism is painted. They are the grout that supports and holds together the mosaic. Their government sees them as non-Hispanic white. They are un-ethnic.

I suppose you could say that those of English and Scotch-Irish descent have now just become un-hyphenated Americans.