Polaris Tartan

[Woot22]

hospitaller, I agree it's cool for people to wear what they want. I personally choose not to is all. But I agree no one should be telling me I cannot wear a particular tartan just because it bothers them either. So I agree with the overall point you were making.

On a completely different note, I think the crusader avatar is pretty slick dude. I have been wanting to read a book called "The Monks of War" on military religious orders for awhile now and it sort of reminded me of the book. That is way off track I know but I have a short attention span so I just sort of go with it.

[macwilkin]

hospitaller, I agree it's cool for people to wear what they want. I personally choose not to is all. But I agree no one should be telling me I cannot wear a particular tartan just because it bothers them either. So I agree with the overall point you were making.

I actually agree with Hector's sentiments as well. Again, I have my own personal beliefs about the subject, but I would never dare dream of telling someone they were "wrong" in wearing a tartan because their standards didn't match mine.

Hector, my most sincere apologies if I have offended you in offering the "devil's advocate" opinion. It was not my intent, and I was not offended by anything you say. I simply was offering "food for thought" from the traditionalist POV. That's all. INMHO, it's always good to get both sides of a story.

Again, my apologies.

Todd

[bowser]

Interesting thread, I had a kilt made for me when I was about 9 and living in Scotland, and the only thing you would wear at the time if you didn't have a particular "family/clan" tartan was either Stewart or any of the military ones, now I know that you CAN wear any but it just was not the done thing. Being English it was one of the military tartans, (actually black watch), you would not consider wearing any other, funny how now the talk is of not wearing a military tartan unless you have served in that particular branch.
I have no particular comment to make just the observation on how opinions have changed over 30 years or so and from one side of the pond to the other.

[gilmore]

Interesting thread, I had a kilt made for me when I was about 9 and living in Scotland, and the only thing you would wear at the time if you didn't have a particular "family/clan" tartan was either Stewart or any of the military ones, now I know that you CAN wear any but it just was not the done thing. Being English it was one of the military tartans, (actually black watch), you would not consider wearing any other, funny how now the talk is of not wearing a military tartan unless you have served in that particular branch.
I have no particular comment to make just the observation on how opinions have changed over 30 years or so and from one side of the pond to the other.

There are some, probably many if not most, who would be more likely to agree with your earlier understanding.

I don't see how kilts are all that different from any other military surplus that can commonly be worn in a civilian context by anyone who wanders into an army-navy surplus store. In fact, military surplus clothing was quite popular in the US not so long ago. OK, a few decades ago.

On the other hand, at least in the context of a Scottish event, I think most would agree that it still would be inappropriate to wear a tartan of a clan other than one's own, and many would say also in most other contexts as well.

[hospitaller]

Hector, my most sincere apologies if I have offended you in offering the "devil's advocate" opinion. It was not my intent, and I was not offended by anything you say. I simply was offering "food for thought" from the traditionalist POV. That's all. INMHO, it's always good to get both sides of a story.

Again, my apologies.

Todd

Todd,

thanks but no need to, I understand the tone of the conversation and no offense was taken. I also try to present advocacy of the other side I guess.

It's all good!

[Ian.MacAllan]

I actually agree with Hector's sentiments as well. Again, I have my own personal beliefs about the subject, but I would never dare dream of telling someone they were "wrong" in wearing a tartan because their standards didn't match mine. . . .

Todd, I can't help marvelling at how easily and often you wind my mainspring nearly to its limit and then release it unloaded, leaving me dizzy and gasping for breath. You are indeed a marvel.

About ten years after the end of my active duty in the US Army I joined the FBM program as a civilian contract engineer and remained with it for 14 years. I worked a couple dozen 12-hour watches aboard those boats during DASO's but never went to sea in one. I don't represent that as equivalent to sea duty in one of those boats but I do believe it warrants my wearing the Polaris tartan if I chose to do so

Among the crew members I knew, only a tiny minority considered me an outlander; the huge majority of those who understood what I contributed to the program accepted me as a colleague, especially when I was buying. Very realistic, practical people, much like Scots.

Thanks for posting your opinions. They always provoke thought, and often they even instruct.

.

[hospitaller]

On a completely different note, I think the crusader avatar is pretty slick dude. I have been wanting to read a book called "The Monks of War" on military religious orders for awhile now and it sort of reminded me of the book. That is way off track I know but I have a short attention span so I just sort of go with it.

Well, I guess I'll give a little background on why I chose Hospitaller as my nickname.

I've mentioned I'm 50% spagniard looking at my ancestry, and I was surprised to know that my mother's maternal line traces back all the way to 1324, to a Maese Adulfus de la Cavada, who was cousin of the then Marquis Efeldo de la Cavada.

Both of them joined the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, he was a Brother Sergeant though, not a Benedictine monk.

So, needless to say I am partial to the Hospitaller knights, who based on reading medieval history, actually did more than the Knights of the Temple did, but without the glory and the movies, haha.

I'd recommend any books written by Helen Nicholson and/or David Nicolle.

[Woot22]

"I'd recommend any books written by Helen Nicholson and/or David Nicolle."

Thanks for the recommendation I will check both the authors out. I am always on the look out for good books on the crusades.

[Detroitpete]

I'll start of by freely admitting that I'm a non-qual FLOB (Freeloading oxygen breather) but I did get temporarily 'stuck' on the Tecumseh. Interesting diversion from life in SBU's.

I wear my Edzell tartan proudly--8 years--I have the right. Add to that, it was designed for sailors at Edzell who were primarily CT's --I was a CT.

I see someone wearing an Edzell or a Polaris--I HAVE to talk to him. Yes, it does raise my hackles a bit when someone with NO connection whatsoever to the Navy is wrapped in these tartans--I don't act like a jerk but I DO say "For me and the guys who served--boy--wear it well, or we might take it from ya". It's an odd thing I know and the ONLY time this reaction happens to me.

Now--as for wearing a tartan in HONOR of your dad--seems like a very nobel thing for a son to do--so I say bubblehead or not, sailor or not--for your dad--wear it well boy, wear it well.

I don't have children of my own, but I do have a nephew who has just realized that kilts are cool and he wants to dress like his uncle sometimes.

If a day comes when that lad shows up in the tartan of my service--in honor of me--not a dry eye to be had--BUT he WILL be buying the first round and be subjected to one of my "One time...down near Panama" stories ;-)

[Kilted Rogue]

I'll start of by freely admitting that I'm a non-qual FLOB (Freeloading oxygen breather) but I did get temporarily 'stuck' on the Tecumseh. Interesting diversion from life in SBU's.

I wear my Edzell tartan proudly--8 years--I have the right. Add to that, it was designed for sailors at Edzell who were primarily CT's --I was a CT.

I see someone wearing an Edzell or a Polaris--I HAVE to talk to him. Yes, it does raise my hackles a bit when someone with NO connection whatsoever to the Navy is wrapped in these tartans--I don't act like a jerk but I DO say "For me and the guys who served--boy--wear it well, or we might take it from ya". It's an odd thing I know and the ONLY time this reaction happens to me.

Now--as for wearing a tartan in HONOR of your dad--seems like a very nobel thing for a son to do--so I say bubblehead or not, sailor or not--for your dad--wear it well boy, wear it well.

I don't have children of my own, but I do have a nephew who has just realized that kilts are cool and he wants to dress like his uncle sometimes.

If a day comes when that lad shows up in the tartan of my service--in honor of me--not a dry eye to be had--BUT he WILL be buying the first round and be subjected to one of my "One time...down near Panama" stories ;-)

WELL SAID PETE!!!!!

My dad was 26 years under the ocean and he pulled many a sub out of Holy Loch, My sis untill 2 years ago was 20 years in as a CT she was in Edzel as well.

I have been going over in my head as i have been reading this thread weither or not i should aquire one of these kilts after reading a bit now and thanks to your 2 cents it gets added to my list of Kilts to own.

Thank you for chiming in