Defending the kilt

By Jim McLaren

The following is an e-mail that was sent to Richard McClard, principal of Jackson High School, who ejected senior Nathan Warmack for wearing a kilt to a dance. The e-mail is typical of several that have been sent to Mr. McClard from both native-born Scots and Scottish-Americans in the St. Louis area after a story about the incident was publicized here.

Dear Sir,

There is a story going round that you made some disparaging remarks to a young man who had it in mind to wear particular cultural attire that has been held in the highest respect around the world for several centuries. I am astounded that people would even think that anyone would be so ignorant as to question the wearing of a kilt, especially given your own name and position of responsibility. I suspect that you did not restrict him from the school dance due to his wearing a kilt but perhaps for some other serious coincidental reason. I think you should let people know what that was so that we can clear up this unfortunate situation.

It has also occurred to me that maybe he was wearing the kilt in an inappropriate manner (as you will know, there is the formal way, the military way, and the "attending a national sport event" way, and so on). If this was the reason then I believe you should have taken him aside and corrected him on how the kilt should be worn for a school dance -- as in how a knowledgeable teacher helps to pass on the cultural knowledge of generations past rather than imposing an entry ban.

If it is true that your rationale for restricting his attendance at the school dance was based on his just wearing the kilt, then you would be well-advised to make a public apology as soon as possible, or hire a really good lawyer. You may not have noticed, but the kilt is held in high enough esteem to be worn at many funerals of the bravest of our citizens, and is worn by the (Scottish) pipe band that leads most parades in the U.S. (including the so-called Irish parade), and has been known as the leadership attire in battles on every continent. The kilt is worn at government events, formal dinners, parties and at many social gatherings in almost every corner of the globe. I sincerely hope Southeast Missouri does not differ in this respect.

No doubt you will be hearing from many people who will inform you of the role of the kilt in world history and the participation of Scots in the history of this great nation -- do not take those comments lightly, and please understand the thread that runs through our society (for example, you should be aware that Congress approved a U.S. Tartan Day to recognize these contributions, and there is even a specific Tartan [Kilt] Day in Missouri).

I am writing personally to tell you that, as an American citizen who was born in Scotland, I can think of no worse cultural tragedy and act of pure discrimination than anyone treating the kilt with disrespect.

You may be well aware already, but just in case. É It took me about 30 seconds to find out that there is a high probability you are related to a Scotsman called Daniel McClard. Perhaps he will be one of your judges when the time comes.

FYI:

"In the early 1700s, Scotland's Daniel McClard escapes to Virginia one step ahead of the authorities in a dispute over some missing cattle (so goes the rumor). He doesn't like the flatlands near the coast and heads inland into the mountains that remind him of home. He takes an Indian wife and has a son John and a daughter Mary. John has children Daniel C. McClard who has 11 children, Seth who has six children, Mary and Samuel. Daniel C. and Seth move their children, their families and 200 head of hogs through Kentucky and Tennessee where Seth stays. Daniel C. then moves on into Southeast Missouri near Cape Girardeau on the Mississippi River.

"As of April 1998, 28,000-plus people, 12 generations in the U.S., all directly attached to Daniel from Scotland are available as a geocities.com text file, hard copy register report and 1,000-plus-page hardback book. New information is arriving and being added daily to the database. The book contains the full register report, documents, stories and hundreds of photographs. You can see the more prominent surnames in our family here."

If this all occurred due to a misunderstanding of the protocol about how a kilt should be worn, I'd be happy to come to your school and demonstrate how the kilt should be worn for that type of occasion -- both to you and to the young man, as required by the situation.

Jim McLaren, president of StrathKirn Inc. in Chesterfield, Mo., is chairman of the board of the St. Louis Scottish Games, past-president of the St. Andrew Society of Greater St. Louis and member of the GlobalScot organization.