An Open Question for 'Jock Scot' (and Scots)

[RockyR]

Many ex pat Scots (and Irish for that matter) that we've met in the 9 years of business have stated something along these lines:

When I was in Scotland / Ireland, I was just another citizen. Now that I am in America, I have more feeling of connection to Scotland / Ireland than I did when I was there.

Another way of putting it: Some of the biggest "flag waving Scots / Irish only became that way after leaving their country". Kind of the same thing as the old saying "you don't know what you've got until it's gone".

Again, no disrespect is meant by this as I am sure there are many fiercely patriotic Scots / Irish. I'm just pointing out an observation about the ex pats I've met.

[seanachie]

Many ex pat Scots (and Irish for that matter) that we've met in the 9 years of business have stated something along these lines:

When I was in Scotland / Ireland, I was just another citizen. Now that I am in America, I have more feeling of connection to Scotland / Ireland than I did when I was there.

Another way of putting it: Some of the biggest "flag waving Scots / Irish only became that way after leaving their country". Kind of the same thing as the old saying "you don't know what you've got until it's gone".

Again, no disrespect is meant by this as I am sure there are many fiercely patriotic Scots / Irish. I'm just pointing out an observation about the ex pats I've met.

ROCKY:
Another part of that is "look after your own." In this country, and I can only speak to what I was taught from my family history, new immigrants faced prejudice, injustice & mistreatment. By banding together, and helping each other out ethnicity was a common bond and a bridge to a job, housing etc. Certainly remnants of this still exist today. So that national identity was very important.