History lesson

[Freelancer]

It's been said that "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it". In this case, I guess you might say - those that cannot learn the real facts are doomed to repeat the myths!

[Kid Cossack]

Well, wait a minute here. Is there none amongst us who once believed those things? I did, at least a few of them. I believed them because I didn't know any better. Admittedly, I didn't hold myself out as an authority on things Scottish---but I believed some silly things.

Better, by far, I should think, a quiet word after the presentation, a slip of a card with Matt's address jotted on the back, a reasoned and reasonable plea for better information, than a "Away with ye, ya jackanape!"

When we can, let us not "curse the darkness, but light a candle!" (I can't believe i just typed that.)

[emolas]

Well, wait a minute here. Is there none amongst us who once believed those things? I did, at least a few of them. I believed them because I didn't know any better. Admittedly, I didn't hold myself out as an authority on things Scottish---but I believed some silly things.

It's one thing for us plebes to believe in a myth but it's another thing entirely when someone pretends to be an authority on a subject and perpetuates the myths. I would definately complain to the games organizers about their hiring of dubious history "experts".

[Ancienne Alliance]

It's one thing for us plebes to believe in a myth but it's another thing entirely when someone pretends to be an authority on a subject and perpetuates the myths. I would definately complain to the games organizers about their hiring of dubious history "experts".

Spot on !

That's the BIG difference.



Best,

Robert

[highlander_Daz]

Greg next time break out the pipes and drown the guy out !

[beloitpiper]

I'm thinking of e-mailing the group that put on the Highland Games. It was really distressing, but in true Scottish form I just gave him a disapproving look and moved onto the St. Andrew's Society tent (they knew what how to party!)

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

Today at the Milwaukee Highland Games, I attended the "History of the Kilt" demonstration. Bad idea. I sit down, and half of it is demonstrating how to put on a great kilt and the other half is talking about the history of the kilt. Here's a few gems that he shared with the audience:
-Kilts have been worn for thousands of years by the Celtic ethnicity
-The kilt was banned in the 16th century, only to be repealed 150 years later
-Prima Noctis was used to "breed out" the Celts (he actually referenced Braveheart on this one!!!)
-The Romans built Hadrian's Wall because of the Celts fearsome fighting, where they would remove their kilt and fight naked
...and many more. I felt a mix of despair and panic. Despair, because this guy has been active the Scottish community for decades and still falls prey to myths and legends, and panic because the audience was soaking it up as Gospel.

That just breaks my brain!!! Good for you for not correcting him while sitting through this... umm.. "demonstration". I believe the words "Are you kidding me!!" would have been uttered at a very loud level had I been there!!
Sara

[Finn]

Or...
What are you -HIGH?!