Quote Originally Posted by cajunscot View Post
We'll agree to disagree then. As I mentioned, Burns himself was a soldier, and the traditions of the Burns Supper have followed Scottish soldiers to many a battlefield, the most recent being Iraq. I don't see where a function honouring the national poet of Scotland, who volunteered to defend his country from possible invasion "demeans or cheapens" the meaning of medals. My friends who are ex-servicemen, btw, do not wear their medals at our Burns Suppers as a "hey, look at me!" thing -- they wear them to honour Pte. Burns of the Dumfries Volunteers, and the many Jocks who have stood beside us in a common cause of freedom. Burns even honoured our first C-in-C, General Washington, with a poem.

Not to mention that one of the first Burns Suppers was held by NCOs and other ranks of the Argyll Militia in 1801, giving the Burns Supper tradition a military origin.

T.

I may have to move up research on Burns a bit on the list. Like most Americans my only exposure to him is on New Years Eve. Since there is so much to learn around here I'd kind of push him to the back. Since I have no rythem and quite frankly, horrible taste in music, researching a poet never was a high priority. I plan to drag my wife to a Burns Dinner this year so I guess I better brush up.

Thanks,
Jim