Ringling Bros. Kilted Clown

[HeathBar]

I was watching the local ABC affiliate yesterday morning when they did a piece on the Ringling Bros. Circus that is in town (Nashville). One of the clowns was wearing a kilt. Well...it was more of a "costume" kilt. It was gathered rather than pleated. He was a clown after all. Ringling Bros. currently has 3 shows traveling. This shown is know as the 135th edition or the Red Tour, starring Bello. The kilted clown's name was Luke. He spoke with a thick Scottish accent, though his clown bio has him coming from South Dakota.
http://www.ringling.com/explore/135/perform/

Unfortunately I can't make it this year. If this tour is coming to a city near you
you just might see Luke, the kilted clown.

[Ugly Bear]

Oh, good. Here I was just wondering what we could do to promote kilt-wearing as a viable option to trousers, and the answer comes: a kilted clown. Of course. That'll make kilts seem dignified.

Does Ringling Bros. get my support for this? Uhh ... no.

[auld argonian]

...oh jeeez...lighten up. It's the circus not masterpiece theatre!

Best

AA

[mddock58]

I just want to make sure the public doesn't see us as Kilted Clowns!

If he's a clown, he's not serious to begin with! So No Problem!

[cajunscot]

...oh jeeez...lighten up. It's the circus not masterpiece theatre!

Best

AA

Respectfully, though...would Ringling Brothers do this with any other ethnic dress? I think that needs to be taken into consideration here. I'm all for clowns and making children smile, but is the "kilted clown" allowed because of the fact that the kilt is not (in general) respected as a symbol of heritage?

Devil's advocate here...but I'm a bit worried about what image this presents to the general public.

Todd

[davedove]

I'm not worried about it. After all, we've seen clowns in police costumes. Does that make all policemen objects of ridicule? Of course not. The same with firemen, cowboys, and any other costume a clown may wear. If a clown wears it, it will look silly. If someone else wears the same kilt in a dignified manner, it won't seem silly.

[auld argonian]

I worry about those who jump on every little thing - including those things that are intended to amuse without being defamatory - and claim that it casts a negative light on their ethnic group/religion/national origin/profession...I fear that they're "crying wolf" and that it leads to trivialization of the really important issues.

Have we ever seen this guy perform? How do we know that he's not as great a clown as Emmet Kelly or Chaplin? The kilt could be incidental to his act (just looking for a distinctive clown personna) or he could be using the cartoon image of the "notoriously stingy Scotsman" as a basis for comedy...if he is, then he's in good company and that company includes the Three Stooges. Whichever the case, I doubt that Ringling Brothers - a good family entertainment - is going to let him really go off the deep end and offend anyone.

It's a circus...he's a clown...what does he have? A big red nose? Big clown shoes? Who's going to miss the point that it's broad comedy? Sit back and take it for what it is. Save the righteous indignation for when it's really needed.

Best

AA

[cajunscot]

I worry about those who jump on every little thing - including those things that are intended to amuse without being defamatory - and claim that it casts a negative light on their ethnic group/religion/national origin/profession...I fear that they're "crying wolf" and that it leads to trivialization of the really important issues.

Have we ever seen this guy perform? How do we know that he's not as great a clown as Emmet Kelly or Chaplin? The kilt could be incidental to his act (just looking for a distinctive clown personna) or he could be using the cartoon image of the "notoriously stingy Scotsman" as a basis for comedy...if he is, then he's in good company and that company includes the Three Stooges. Whichever the case, I doubt that Ringling Brothers - a good family entertainment - is going to let him really go off the deep end and offend anyone.

It's a circus...he's a clown...what does he have? A big red nose? Big clown shoes? Who's going to miss the point that it's broad comedy? Sit back and take it for what it is. Save the righteous indignation for when it's really needed.

Best

AA

I Never suggested we boycott Ringling Brothers or deluge them with phone calls and e-mails. Just presenting a "devil's advocate" view like others did. If you re-read my post you'll see that. Better to express worry here and discuss it then to go off half-cocked and "protest" a circus.

Sorry to offend you.

T.

[Ugly Bear]

I fear that they're "crying wolf" and that it leads to trivialization of the really important issues.

No one's "crying wolf" here. Crying wolf means raising a false alarm. This isn't an alarm, just a disinclination to support the circus. Nor is it false; this isn't some guy who might inadvertently make kilt-wearers seem foolish, this is LITERALLY A CLOWN WEARING A KILT. "Dignified" and "clown" cannot possibly go together. It's a ... whatyacallit ... it's an oxymoron. There. I said it.

Have we ever seen this guy perform? How do we know that he's not as great a clown as Emmet Kelly or Chaplin? The kilt could be incidental to his act (just looking for a distinctive clown personna) or he could be using the cartoon image of the "notoriously stingy Scotsman" as a basis for comedy...if he is, then he's in good company and that company includes the Three Stooges.

You're not exactly laying my complaint to rest here, man.

It's a circus...he's a clown...what does he have? A big red nose? Big clown shoes? Who's going to miss the point that it's broad comedy?

No one will miss his point. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. You want to make fun of baggy pants and loud colors, I have no truck with that. Let people who wear that sort of clothing regularly make their own points. But this is MY choice of clothing that's being subject to ridicule.

Does the clown have the right to do this? Sure. Do I have to take a "live-and-let-live" attitude? No, I don't.

You can call it "righteous indignation" that I won't go to Ringling Bros circus to support this. You'd be wrong. I hadn't planned on going to the circus anyway. This thread started with a suggestion that we go to the circus to support this. I'm arguing the opposite: if you go, you'll support the notion, in a tiny way, that kilts are ridiculous. That's the hill I've planted my flag on. If you've got an argument to push me off it, I'm all ears.

[Iolaus]

What if one of us was a professional clown? Are you saying that person should only poke fun at other "cultures" but not his own chosen culture?

I refuse to take myself that seriously. ;) If you can't laugh at yourself, you have no business asking others to.