Samll mindedness

**Laird_M** · 21st February 12, 05:22 AM

A couple of months ago we moved into a new building and I met a lady with a lovely Scottish accent.
To begin with she was very friendly and we spoke about kilts, Scottish sweets and food, etc.

For some reason she now seems to have decided that as our family celebrate Burns and St Andrew's Tide, wear the plaid, etc., that as I wasn't actually born in Scotland thanks to dad not taking a job in Edinburgh but in Kent, that as we're 'more Scottish' than her family is, to totally blank me everytime she sees me now or glare at me.

Its always amazes me how small minded some people can be. Rather than accepting that people can admire and immerse themselves in another culture, they get all huffy if you're more "x" than they are.

How few of us on here were actually born in Scotland? How many of us on here weren't born there, but have links or just a love of the culture, etc.?

Even the UK government have now decided that 'nationality' is now a state of mind and not what it says on your birth certificate.

Its not going to change me one bit but wondered if anyone else has come across this?

**thecompaqguy** · 21st February 12, 05:32 AM

I've had numerous battles against me wearing the kilt

but like most Jamaicans I have a Scottish surname (Ferguson) it only changed due to old Adoption laws to something more English. I have relatives living in Scotland, and I live in an area of North London called Scotland Green, and do contract work for the police at Scotland Yard. Proof enough for me

If she's got an issue with you wearing the kilt, best be rid of her, IMHO

**Thomas H** · 21st February 12, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by thecompaqguy

I've had numerous battles against me wearing the kilt

but like most Jamaicans I have a Scottish surname (Ferguson) it only changed due to old Adoption laws to something more English. I have relatives living in Scotland, and I live in an area of North London called Scotland Green, and do contract work for the police at Scotland Yard. Proof enough for me

If she's got an issue with you wearing the kilt, best be rid of her, IMHO

COOL Man I did not know you were a Ferguson -So am I and I am from
Illionois, United States and Norway ,The only Scottish I have is the love of the Highland Wear and My Grand Mother was a Ferguson. SMALL WORLD

**Father Bill** · 21st February 12, 05:32 AM

Sadly, only on XMarks, but it may depend on how one does it too.

**Rab** · 21st February 12, 05:52 AM

I work with a lad from Aberdeen who'd love to be american, he loves the culture, food , country and especially the sports. He's a mad vikings fan.

If you want to be Scottish (and who wouldnt) then go for it

**Piipriker** · 21st February 12, 06:22 AM

On this premises, only Greeks should take part in the Olympic Games

**Father Bill** · 21st February 12, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by Piipriker

On this premises, only Greeks should take part in the Olympic Games

*** Well said.

**O'Searcaigh** · 21st February 12, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Piipriker

On this premises, only Greeks should take part in the Olympic Games

And only Geeks should be allowed to use computers.

**auld argonian** · 21st February 12, 08:48 AM

Hey, you get this from all sides...remember that Chicago is incredibly ethnically diverse so I've seen this from all sides.

I have a Polish surname...the Polish side of my family came over in the late 19th Century and we are about as assimilated as you can get. You meet recent immigrants and people who are Polish second generation and they're insulted that you don't speak Polish....***? Lots of the Lithuanian-Americans that I've met are really serious about keeping their culture alive...it gets scary somethimes.

Come down to this newly re-born South Side Irish Parade and get a load of the folks who are not just second generation Irish but third, fourth, fifth and sixth generation...they are unbelievably Irish...I've been out drinking with people who are from Ireland and after they find out that I live on the South Side, they aks "What's with those people? We can't understand them...".

Remember that our current President had an issue with not being "Black" enough...again: ***? This happens with almost everybody...you do the natural thing and assimilate into the culture that you're living in and there will always be somebody connected to your original culture that will get huffy.

Think about this in the context of this forum. It's been pretty well established that the Native Scots usually have one or two kilts...we've got people here with several dozen...you've got to think that SOME of the Scots are thinking, "What is going on here?". I recently heard the expression "Scottier than thou" used in reference to some of the Americans who do go overboard on the Scottish Culture thing...face it...point well taken.

I know that I, as a native all-my-life Chicagoan, get a kick out of the transplants and tourists who move here and think that they have to get Chicago-ized and start trying to speak Chicago-ese and such.

So you're going to get this stuff...go back and read all the past stories about forum members who have gotten castigated at Highland Games by some character that comes up out of nowhere (usually with several shots of whisky in him) and gives him a lecture on how he shouldn't be wearing that tartan or shouldn't be wearing a kilt at all. Dudes...do we have a good laugh at that kinda thing here? Damn right we do.

Ah, well...don't take it so seriously and try to make some ammends in a small way...bring some scones to work, ask the dear lady about her childhood experiences....offer the old girl a dram off your sporran flask...roll wi' it.

Best

AA