Kilted John Barrowman

[AtagahiKC]

I think we are slightly askew in subject matter. Neither Barrowman's opinion nor mine are based strictly on kilt-wearing. I am talking about general levels of tolerance, not just kilts. I believe that what Barrowman says that he bases his opinion on, the flak he received over wearing his kilt and having a Glasgow accent, were just two of the symptoms of the larger problem of intolerance of differences in the Midwest, which he feels existed.

Yes, you can probably wear a kilt in Southwest Missouri without receiving too much flak. But I think that is the minimum measure of tolerance, not the maximum.

No one area has a monopoly on tolerance. But some areas have greater amounts than others. You can feel it when you move from one area of the country to another. Counter to what I thought I'd find, Arizona had a much greater level of tolerance of differences than I ever found in the Midwest.

But overall, it is no accident that high school principals in rural Missouri and a few other Midwestern states have been the ones fight the wearing of kilts by young men at proms. They wouldn't be fighting perceived differences were there not more people in their communities who supported their prejudice than those who did not.

That is not to say that there aren't people who disagree with those principals in their communities. Apparently, they are not in sufficient numbers to change the principals' minds, though.

I'm glad your experience has been different than mine. But just because your experience was different doesn't make Barrowman's or my experience less valid than yours.

There is room for all of our opinions and all of our experiences. I'm glad that you love the Midwest and enjoy living there.

My experience with the Midwest wasn't terrible, but having experienced living in an area with greater tolerance, it became one of the main reasons I moved away. But you know, vive le difference. That's why there are different places to live.

Finally, I stand corrected, Peoria is in Northern Illinois. I accept the local rules on geographical placement. I also accept that Barrowman might have come from Joliet. That sounds right to me now that you've said it.

Let's just be glad that Barrowman still wears his kilt proudly, as do I.