A Modern Scottish View of Clans (and Gathering)

[gilmore]

Of course, one can argue that those Chiefs did anything to anyone's ancestors, because they weren't alive at the time.

"Sins of the father" all that.

T.

Of course.

In fact the few chiefs, chieftans, and members of their families I have met have been fine fellows for whom I have a certain sympathy, they having been born into a rather circumscribed and often thankless role in life that they sometimes feel they have to play out, regardless of their own interests, abilities, personalities and inclinations.

Responding using the previous analogy, I may have done nothing to any living African-American's ancestors, because I was not alive at the time, although some of my ancestors were slave owners. However, I have benefited from that injustice. To me it seems the least I can do is not to perpetuate the rosy myth that slavery was a wonderful institution.