What makes a Scot?

**Nick the DSM** · 8th January 08, 05:03 PM

why do you persist in calling other people only scottish by heritage when it means so much to them to be who their ancestors were. to tell you the truth, their are no differneces between the Scotland scots and the people you call heritage scots, except maybe an accent and culture. look at all the people with scottish background in america, canada, australia and so on- just different accents and traditions but still has scottish blood. i have more than one ethnic background besides scottish, does that make me less scottish? no, it does not but you persist to demean others' pride in being a descendent of a scotsperson.

**Bryan** · 8th January 08, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by Nick the DSM

why do you persist in calling other people only scottish by heritage when it means so much to them to be who their ancestors were. to tell you the truth, their are no differneces between the Scotland scots and the people you call heritage scots, except maybe an accent and culture. look at all the people with scottish background in america, canada, australia and so on- just different accents and traditions but still has scottish blood. i have more than one ethnic background besides scottish, does that make me less scottish? no, it does not but you persist to demean others' pride in being a descendent of a scotsperson.

Couldn't agree more. I'm very proud of my ancestry. Every bit of it (even the English *gasp*). Do I consider myself a Scot because I have Scottish ancestry? Heck no. Same as I don't consider myself a German or an Englishman. I'm an American, born and bred. Does the fact that I'm an American make me any less a Scottish descendant or diminish my "right" to wear tartan in the form of a kilt, or enjoy the sound of the highland pipes, or enjoy drinking Scotch (which in reality I never developed a taste for) to celebrate that one aspect of my heritage? Again, heck no.

**auld argonian** · 8th January 08, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Nick the DSM

why do you persist in calling other people only scottish by heritage when it means so much to them to be who their ancestors were. to tell you the truth, their are no differneces between the Scotland scots and the people you call heritage scots, except maybe an accent and culture. look at all the people with scottish background in america, canada, australia and so on- just different accents and traditions but still has scottish blood. i have more than one ethnic background besides scottish, does that make me less scottish? no, it does not but you persist to demean others' pride in being a descendent of a scotsperson.

Well, nick, I have to think that there is a difference. Scotland didn't go into a freeze when any of our ancestors left to go to the New World (both the Western NW and the Eastern NW) it continued to evolve as a society and culture. Those who live there are the workers and the taxpayers and the voters and the consumers who make up a unique culture just as we members of the Diaspora live in our nations and make up our own local cultures.

Maybe we identify with the positive qualities that we associate with the Scots and try to identify with that and emulate that...it gives us inspiration and some comfort in feeling a connection to our forebearers but we don't live in the Scottish society as it exists now so what's wrong with saying that we have Scottish heritage rather than insisting that we are somehow Scots?

I emphasize the thing about our positive image of our forebearers. We generally seem to think of them as having been straight arrows and tough guys (and gals) who could handle anything. I'd hate to find out that my Great Gramps X 6 didn't leave to find opportunity in the New World but rather was a horse-thief that beat it out of town just ahead of the lynch mob. I'm sure that everyones' histories have an equal share of valorous upright types and sneaky thievin' bastards...we just try to concentrate on the good guys. I'm sure that there are frellin' creeps in Scotland because there sure as hell are enough of them here in Chicago and I have to think that things are pretty much the same all over to either a greater or lesser degree. I have to assume that the loser that attacked our Arlen wasn't there on vacation from Chicago...

I don't have any problem with not being an actual Scot. I like the culture, I'm learning more about the history, I generally find the Scots admirable and I am descended from Scots...but I'm an American. I don't hyphenate...I'm happy to let people know where my various forebearers came from.

Best

AA

...but you know how history would treat the horse-thief thing, right? He would have been bravely stealing those horses out from under the noses of the English and that's why he had to take it on the lam and head for the colonies!

**ccga3359** · 8th January 08, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by Bryan

I realize that, but why do you have to swear allegiance to her again is my question? Since you are an English citizen, aren't you already a subject of the crown?

Being born in England I never actually swore allegience to the crown. I suppose by birth it is assumed that one is loyal to the Queen (Royalist or not). The same for those actually born in here. In Canada there is no seperate swearing in ceremony based on country of origin (this would fly in the face of our multi-cultural beliefs). the only other time, I believe, that a Canadian swears allegience to the Queen is when they join the Canadian Forces. In Canada Elizabeth is recognized as Queen of Canada and not as Queen of England.

**Bryan** · 8th January 08, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by ccga3359

Being born in England I never actually swore allegience to the crown. I suppose by birth it is assumed that one is loyal to the Queen (Royalist or not). The same for those actually born in here. In Canada there is no seperate swearing in ceremony based on country of origin (this would fly in the face of our multi-cultural beliefs). the only other time, I believe, that a Canadian swears allegience to the Queen is when they join the Canadian Forces. In Canada Elizabeth is recognized as Queen of Canada and not as Queen of England.

That's really interesting, thanks! You've satisfied my curiosity.

**Ozman1944** · 8th January 08, 07:11 PM

The Celtic part of me loves the sound of the 'pipes; it stirs my blood, makes my skin prickle, and can move me to tears.
But the Aussie part of me hankers after Beer, never Scotch.:beer:

**Bryan** · 8th January 08, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Ozman1944

But the Aussie part of me hankers after Beer, never Scotch.

Me too!!

**beloitpiper** · 8th January 08, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by seanboy

no i got the point with me saying I have no foreigners in my family though my dads irish. I also stated that the scots and irish are too geneticaly close to call each other foreigners

By that logic, I'm just as Scottish as you are!

**highlander_Daz** · 9th January 08, 01:35 AM

Seanboy :

1 "no i got the point with me saying I have no foreigners in my family though my dads irish"

2 "when I meant non foriegner I meant outside the uk"

3 "I have a father whom is irish, born in ireland but more importantly he was brought up in ireland. So I am proud of my irish heritage""

4 " Me and my ancestors where all born and brought up in scotland I have no records of foreigner in my family line, and my family line goes back centuries and centuries."

Seanboy forgive me but Im confused,
all your ancesters were born in Scotland (4) and your family line goes back centuries, (4) except your dad who was born in Ireland (3), you have no Foriegn blood and all your ancesters were born in the UK now (not just Scotland ) (2) but your dad was born in Ireland (not part of the UK)

???

**slohairt** · 9th January 08, 02:02 AM

Here's an interesting tidbit: Until comparatively recent times, someone from the U.K. or Ireland wasn't even considered really "foreign" by the native-born populace in Canada! Proof once again of the Mother Country to colony/dominion relationship that used to be much stronger.