celtic confederate jackets worm with kilts

[SlackerDrummer]

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? )

I have said in at least two of my posts in this thread: Wear the uniform and do it well. I don't find your example to be at all inconsistent with my point of view. Wearing a uniform to a themed event is fine. My suggestions were to wear a (part of a) uniform to a formal ball. I apologize for not qualifying that. And putting a kilt with a Confederate uniform is NOT wearing the uniform. Those uniforms did not include kilts.

However, just as others have stated there are no set rules on how to display ones heritage.

Not picking on you GaRebel211, you just provided the quote I needed to reference. (Thanks for participating in the conversation.)

My point is simply this: If you wear a kilt with a Confederate uniform, you are in fact NOT displaying your heritage. It wasn't done by your (collective) ancestors or mine. Where does one draw the line? On which side of the line are the lederhosen of Germany and Austria? There were certainly plenty of Germans here and fighting on both sides of war.

HERITAGE
1 : property that descends to an heir
2 a : something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor : legacy, inheritance
b : tradition
3 : something possessed as a result of one's natural situation or birth : birthright <the nation's heritage of tolerance>

TRADITION
1 a : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)
b : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable
2 : the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
3 : cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
4 : characteristic manner, method, or style <in the best liberal tradition>

It is certainly only my opinion, but I think there are times to honor our Scots heritage and times to honor our Confederate/Federal heritage. And I think mixing the two of them up serves neither to the best of one's ability. To wear the kilt with the uniform at a reenactment I believe we can all agree is unthinkable. Why then is it okay elsewhere? Is it any less false because it isn't a living history situation? Worn in a parade, what is the message the public takes away? If one is serious about honoring one's heritage, then one must accept responsibility for being honest about it.

[macwilkin]

I think Kenneth raises an excellent point in his last post:

My point is simply this: If you wear a kilt with a Confederate uniform, you are in fact NOT displaying your heritage. It wasn't done by your (collective) ancestors or mine. Where does one draw the line? On which side of the line are the lederhosen of Germany and Austria? There were certainly plenty of Germans here and fighting on both sides of war.

Well said. Many Americans of German and Austrian heritage served in both World Wars, and in the case of the First World War, saw their heritage and traditions persecuted by "loyal" Americans at home that banned German language classes and changed sauerkraut into liberty cabbage.

This point reminded me of how some, such as the late Grady McWhiney attempted to claim Scottish & Irish heritage for only the South; his books such as "Cracker Culture" and "Attack & Die" seem to imply that there were no "Celtic" peoples fighting for the North, when in fact there were -- the Irish were second to the Germans in terms of Northern ethnic regiments, and the Scots, especially in Scotland, tended to favour the Northern cause as well. Some of my own Scottish and Ulster-Scottish ancestors settled in Iowa before the War, and loyally served their new home in non-ethnic Iowa regiments. They certainly carried their Burns with them, but they didn't see their service as a display of ethnicity per se.

That being said, I think others have raised some very valid points well in this discussion, especially Terry.

T.

[BoldHighlander]

That being said, I think others have raised some very valid points well in this discussion, especially Terry.

And for my part, to say anything more on the subject right now makes me feel like a dog chasing it's own tail

So I'll respectfully remain silent

However, it is an interesting discussion, with lots of good points being made all the way around. I will be watching how it develops (& who knows?) :mrgreen:

Cheers!

[GaRebel211]

My point is simply this: If you wear a kilt with a Confederate uniform, you are in fact NOT displaying your heritage. It wasn't done by your (collective) ancestors or mine. Where does one draw the line?

True, thus I wrote.

I for one would not mix my kilt with my Confederate uniform, but that is me. I would however find sublte ways to honor both Scottish and Confederate heritage.(SCV badge,Family crest pin, etc) I adhere to a strict policy on my Confederate uniform, because lets be honest, more questions follow a person who is dressed head to toe in a "historically accurate" Confederate uniform.

I fully understand what you are saying. All I am trying to say is that there is being "accurate" in uniform, and then there is "hodge-podge/ whatever goes" Whichever way the OP decides to go, is up to the OP.
I know for a fact that Confederate dress codes did NOT address kilts, therefore I do NOT portray kilts and a Confederate Uniform.
We are saying the same thing, but I firmly believe that an individual deserves the right to dress however they wish...Even though it is historically inaccurate.