Quote Originally Posted by SlackerDrummer View Post
Terry, you make a good point. I am bent out of shape. There is no Confederate army any more and for some reason, people think that gives them justification do whatever they want with the uniform. Try this one on for size. Go down to the VA and ask any one of the men down there how they would feel about you putting on an army dress coat from WWII, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War and going to a ball. Do you think they'd be honored by this show of support or do you think they'd find it a mockery. I've never served in the Armed Forces. How would any of the active duty servicemen or women or veterans on this forum feel about me putting on Marine Corps dress blues and going to a party? When you put on a Confederate uniform for whatever purpose (whether to reenact or attend a fancy ball) you are portraying a Confederate soldier, real or imagined, so it should be done right. When, in the name of "honoring" your ancestors, you make a mockery of mine, I find it insulting.
You have every right to your opinion, but in the end it is just your opinion.

I personally do not see any intent to make a mockery of my (or their) ancestors. If, on the other hand, the intent was not honourable, then that would be different. That is my opinion, for what little its worth.

On your VA analogy: our own Riverkilt wears a reproduction of a WWII RAF service jacket with his RAF kilt. He even marched in a recent Veteran's Day parade wearing this attire. I don't believe Ron served in the RAF, but as I recall he wears it to honour his father who did. Is he making a mockery of his father's service, (or of any other RAF's veterans)? Do the vet's he's met while wearing said attire feel mocked or insulted? Why don't we ask Ron?
(and in the end does Ron really care about yours, or even my opinion regarding his choice or reasons for wearing his RAF jacket? I very much doubt it.)

Or how about the recent thread about the Swinging Six (the sporran of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders), in paticular the masked badger version.
I was of the opinion that a civilian version was fine to wear, but leave the military version for the guys serving (or for historical reenactment purposes). In that thread one of our newer members (a current serving officer with the A&SH's) mentioned that since the amalgamation into the Royal Regt of Scotland, that the wearing of the swinging six has ceased. He encouraged the civilian wearing of the full mask badger swinging six as a way of honouring this old tradition.
Now, what am I to make of that? Should I feel concerned about making a mockery of a very proud Highland Regiment, and possibly insulting an old jock, when I have the blessing of (currently) serving member of said regiment to wear this former uniform item (once reserved for NCO's & Officers of the Argylls)?

It's all in the eye of the beholder I suppose. And as I said earlier, its really just our own individual opinion, which in the end doesn't amount to much.

Oh, incidentally, the local air museum had their annual ball (always with a period theme). The theme two yrs ago? WWII. Those who didn't go in period civilian dress were in military dress. There was also a few WWII vets there, all of whom were thrilled by the honour paid to them. Last years ball was the Viet Nam war, and (you guessed it) a large number of the attendees (many not even born until well after the war) wore the uniform (including some Class A's). There were also plenty of vets present.....on both occasions none felt insulted or mocked.

I wonder why? (...just maybe they recognized the intent of the organizers /participants, and in turn felt honoured by it? )