Polaris Tartan

[macwilkin]

Fine, if you say I have, then I guess I have.

So are all of us here at XMTS wearing all sorts of tartans then. Whether we are affiliated with a group or not.

Again, if 99.999% of the people have no idea what a Polaris even is, I still fail to see the argument of people 'claiming' to be anything.

I certainly am not a Soldier nor claim to be one but I sure am proud of my Black Watch kilt.

I am not a Marine nor have I been but the Leatherneck tartan sure looks good on me.

I'm not fond of this particular Polaris tartan but if someone likes it, by all means wear it.


Agreed, that is why I am anxiously waiting for the day when I can save and justify enough money to have my own Young Tartan kilt made.

My apologies for not being clearer; let me just say up front that my opinions on tartan symbolism are my own personal beliefs. I only hold myself to them, no one else. I am certainly not applying them to you personally.

I am just offering "food for thought" from a traditionalist point-of-view.

Again, apologies for the misunderstanding.

Todd

[Woot22]

Todd, I have to agree with you here. It is just my personal feeling but I would feel strange wearing a military tartan I had no affiliation with. I served in the Army for several years so I may get a kilt in the US Army tartan. But there is no way I would feel right about wearing a Polaris or USMC tartan kilt and that is not just because I think jarheads are all bunch of knuckleheads either. Only kidding nothing but respect for anyone who has served regardless of service.

[hospitaller]

On principle I also agree with you Woot22, but then again, those are NOT 'military' tartans, but privately/comercially made using the branch name or inspired by them.

Something else to consider, this board has members frm all over the world, who may or may not have affinity for any particular country so called 'military' tartans. And some people who simply like a particular tartan, whether it is a 'military tartan' or not.

And there are some others who have served in other countries military forces, others have not.

I have seen and noticed an increase of 'military oriented' topics in this forum lately and it inevitably ends with someone's feelings being sore.

So, I will end just as I began my first reply, unless something is officially issued as a military clothing item, I personally wouldn't have problems wearing it.

Offenses are more often perceived by the receiver, not actually made by the supposed offender.

Nothing further to add from my side on this, simply wish these military questions were either reduced or the people considered the varied audience of this website.

Good evening all.

[Woot22]

hospitaller, I agree it's cool for people to wear what they want. I personally choose not to is all. But I agree no one should be telling me I cannot wear a particular tartan just because it bothers them either. So I agree with the overall point you were making.

On a completely different note, I think the crusader avatar is pretty slick dude. I have been wanting to read a book called "The Monks of War" on military religious orders for awhile now and it sort of reminded me of the book. That is way off track I know but I have a short attention span so I just sort of go with it.

[macwilkin]

hospitaller, I agree it's cool for people to wear what they want. I personally choose not to is all. But I agree no one should be telling me I cannot wear a particular tartan just because it bothers them either. So I agree with the overall point you were making.

I actually agree with Hector's sentiments as well. Again, I have my own personal beliefs about the subject, but I would never dare dream of telling someone they were "wrong" in wearing a tartan because their standards didn't match mine.

Hector, my most sincere apologies if I have offended you in offering the "devil's advocate" opinion. It was not my intent, and I was not offended by anything you say. I simply was offering "food for thought" from the traditionalist POV. That's all. INMHO, it's always good to get both sides of a story.

Again, my apologies.

Todd

[bowser]

Interesting thread, I had a kilt made for me when I was about 9 and living in Scotland, and the only thing you would wear at the time if you didn't have a particular "family/clan" tartan was either Stewart or any of the military ones, now I know that you CAN wear any but it just was not the done thing. Being English it was one of the military tartans, (actually black watch), you would not consider wearing any other, funny how now the talk is of not wearing a military tartan unless you have served in that particular branch.
I have no particular comment to make just the observation on how opinions have changed over 30 years or so and from one side of the pond to the other.

[hospitaller]

On a completely different note, I think the crusader avatar is pretty slick dude. I have been wanting to read a book called "The Monks of War" on military religious orders for awhile now and it sort of reminded me of the book. That is way off track I know but I have a short attention span so I just sort of go with it.

Well, I guess I'll give a little background on why I chose Hospitaller as my nickname.

I've mentioned I'm 50% spagniard looking at my ancestry, and I was surprised to know that my mother's maternal line traces back all the way to 1324, to a Maese Adulfus de la Cavada, who was cousin of the then Marquis Efeldo de la Cavada.

Both of them joined the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, he was a Brother Sergeant though, not a Benedictine monk.

So, needless to say I am partial to the Hospitaller knights, who based on reading medieval history, actually did more than the Knights of the Temple did, but without the glory and the movies, haha.

I'd recommend any books written by Helen Nicholson and/or David Nicolle.

[hospitaller]

Hector, my most sincere apologies if I have offended you in offering the "devil's advocate" opinion. It was not my intent, and I was not offended by anything you say. I simply was offering "food for thought" from the traditionalist POV. That's all. INMHO, it's always good to get both sides of a story.

Again, my apologies.

Todd

Todd,

thanks but no need to, I understand the tone of the conversation and no offense was taken. I also try to present advocacy of the other side I guess.

It's all good!

[Ian.MacAllan]

I actually agree with Hector's sentiments as well. Again, I have my own personal beliefs about the subject, but I would never dare dream of telling someone they were "wrong" in wearing a tartan because their standards didn't match mine. . . .

Todd, I can't help marvelling at how easily and often you wind my mainspring nearly to its limit and then release it unloaded, leaving me dizzy and gasping for breath. You are indeed a marvel.

About ten years after the end of my active duty in the US Army I joined the FBM program as a civilian contract engineer and remained with it for 14 years. I worked a couple dozen 12-hour watches aboard those boats during DASO's but never went to sea in one. I don't represent that as equivalent to sea duty in one of those boats but I do believe it warrants my wearing the Polaris tartan if I chose to do so

Among the crew members I knew, only a tiny minority considered me an outlander; the huge majority of those who understood what I contributed to the program accepted me as a colleague, especially when I was buying. Very realistic, practical people, much like Scots.

Thanks for posting your opinions. They always provoke thought, and often they even instruct.

.

[macwilkin]

Todd, I can't help marvelling at how easily and often you wind my mainspring nearly to its limit and then release it unloaded, leaving me dizzy and gasping for breath. You are indeed a marvel.

About ten years after the end of my active duty in the US Army I joined the FBM program as a civilian contract engineer and remained with it for 14 years. I worked a couple dozen 12-hour watches aboard those boats during DASO's but never went to sea in one. I don't represent that as equivalent to sea duty in one of those boats but I do believe it warrants my wearing the Polaris tartan if I chose to do so

Among the crew members I knew, only a tiny minority considered me an outlander; the huge majority of those who understood what I contributed to the program accepted me as a colleague, especially when I was buying. Very realistic, practical people, much like Scots.

Thanks for posting your opinions. They always provoke thought, and often they even instruct.

.

Ian,

Many thanks...I think.

Seriously, I would have no issue with you wearing the tartan, even if you didn't have that connection.

I can only worry about myself.

Todd