I have read with great interest several threads which have come and gone recently on this forum around the kilt and attitudes about who it is appropriate for and its cultural history. I have learned a lot, I have laughed at some and, at some, got quite angry. At least a half a dozen times I started replies but then stopped thinking, who am I arguing with, why do I care?

I find myself and my attitude bobbing around somewhere in the middle of the North Atlantic. I can see and empathize with all points of view. To understand I have to bore you with a bit of my personal background. I was raised on a farm called Maple Brae, outside of the village of Cameron, on the road up to Glenarm and Argyle. The kirk in Glenarm offered services in Gaelic until the 1950's ( I know because my Grandfather conducted them). We raised Scotch Shorthorn cattle, at every fair, parade and event the local pipe band played, wearing the regional tartan. My mother made kilts for my brother and I when we were small, later I graduated into hand-me-down cadet ones, then old army surplus which I wore in University and then when I became engaged my parents had one locally made for me, in the family tartan, which I wore at my wedding 32 years ago. I have always worn the kilt in a very traditional Scottish way and mostly just for special occasions. Yet I have never been to Scotland, all of this was in rural Ontario, Canada.

I first found this forum just over a year ago when searching for some accessories for my son Alistair's wedding, he was carrying on the family traditions and wearing his kilt for his own wedding. This forum is the first place that I ever heard of Irish Kilts, Contemporary Kilts and, even more surprising to me, people wearing kilts with only the most tenuous connections to Scotland, or even none at all. My first reaction was, these people are nuts! Then I found myself a bit miffed that they would appropriate something which was so important to me, my family, heritage and tradition. I felt that they were inappropriately appropriating my culture and had no right.

However, I was not long on Xmarts before I also encountered the other point of view. I learned that there were those in Scotland who think I am nuts! That as a native born North American, by wearing, the kilt I am inappropriately appropriating their culture. I was at the same time shocked, angry and saddened. I had never thought of the kilt as national dress, it was an important element and symbol of my family and my heritage. It was disturbing to find that at least a few Scots no longer feel I am part of the family.

This has all left me rather confused. My gut and instinct is still uncomfortable with people who say they wear a kilt to honour their Great, Great, Grandfather Willie, on there mother's side, who they just found out was from Glasgow. On the other hand, I understand how it hurts to be judged so catch myself and don't comment. I have thought a lot about this issue and am no closer to an answer. I know what feels right to me but I also know I have no right to judge others. However, for some reason it was important for me to get this off my chest.

The only way I can think of to conclude this reflection is with the words of my favourite philosopher of the 20th century Popeye T. Sailorman "I am what I am, and thats all what I am."