Quote Originally Posted by cajunscot
Don't you think it's just as insulting to judge a group before actually meeting them? As I explained earlier, most Scottish societies are usually friendly bunches, and have many members who are not of Scottish heritage -- As I mentioned before, one of our most active members in our society is 100% Nebraska German Lutheran. Our President is from Brazil. I know a lady in another society who is from Bogota, Colombia, and had no connection to Scotland -- she attended a function of that society, liked it, was welcomed by the members, and has stayed -- and no one thinks any different.

BTW, Highland Games in Flag are run by the Northern AZ Celtic Heritage Society -- why no cringe there?

Our own Freelander is a member of the Caledonian Society of Norway, which has a good deal of Norwegians in it, and the same for the Cally of Sweden.

And besides -- you might just learn something. There is always time to learn something, or else those of us in the education business are wasting our time. It's a cliche now, but "the mind is a terrible thing to waste".

T.
To be accurate though, some caledonian societies are very insular. Cincinnati's won't let you officialy join unless you can prove Scottish ancestry, and until last year you couldn't join if you are a woman (only husbands please). On the other hand, you don't have to be a member to go to any of their functions, membership basically only gets you their newsletter.

Adam