Allowed tartans

[macwilkin]

Indeed, follow your own rules.

On the issue of clans and chiefs, I am somewhat torn. I understand the sense of community one feels from a clan, but I dislike the idea of clan chiefs. Especially hereditary ones. Considering the way the clan system ended in both the Highlands of Scotland and in Ireland, I am surprised that anyone would feel kinship towards an office which more often than not, betrayed them (Scotland) or abandoned them (Ireland).

Instead, I think a clan association with an elected chief would be infinitely preferable.

You're making unfair generalizations. Not every chief betrayed their clansmen, although I'm not denying some did. And as a historian, one of the first rules I learned was not to judge either people in the past by modern standards, or modern-day persons because of the actions of their ancestors.

And as far as Irish Chiefs go, well, that's a bit of a "sticky wicket" after the MacCarthy Mor Hoax back in the late '90s:

http://homepage.eircom.net/~seanjmurphy/chiefs/

Todd