Scottish outlook on kilted Americans?

[Phil]

+++++ 1!!!!!

I submit a motion that this thread be closed and further threads of this nature be declined. To quote Jock Scot, "enough is enough."

All that ever comes of this is:

1) An innocent question is posed
2) A few diplomatic people earnestly attempt to reply politely
3) More probing and hypothetical supposition turns the original post on its head creating a debate about culture and, inevitably, a veiled discussion about politics.
4) The proverbial temperature rises and genuine diplomacy gives way to a casual nonchalance that thinly disguises the desire on many sides to lay into one another venting each speaker's blatant opinion.
5) Insistance and entrenched opinions come to a head and the next thing we all know we are duking it out at the Somme...no real headway is made and feelings are (inadvertantly or otherwise) hurt and we realise the futility of the discussion in hindsight.
6) We all agree to disagree and say that we have discussed the topic too much in the past.
7) Someone, a couple of months later poses the question again...and we find ourselves in the same positions.

I am all for free speech but common sense must prevail.

I am finished soapboxing. If I have offended anyone then perhaps they should ask themselves why they were offended in the firstplace.

Peace and good vibes to all. My intention is only to help stop any conflict before it starts.

A noble sentiment and one with which I agree completely. As you say a diplomatic and honest reply is followed by a contentious post revealing the writer's underlying feelings about the validity or otherwise of wearing a kilt, thinly disguised in a convoluted argument trying to dissemble any valid claim to that garment and, in fact, any claim to the history and tradition behind it.
The bottom line is that nobody can or wishes to stop anyone wearing a kilt - how can they? What this whole discussion seems to throw up, however, is the underlying uncertainties felt about wearing a garment that purports to define a nationality when one does not belong to that nation oneself. What better way to dissemble the whole facade then than to argue against the very existence of that nation? If it doesn't exist how can anyone have a better claim to its symbols?