Comments on: Gaelic, Not Gaelic: Two Scotlands two Diasporas

By: Susan McIntosh

Susan McIntosh — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 15:27:22 +0000

Rodger and Iain – We are in agreement. Education is the key. The lack of quality academic research and publishing in Scottish Gaelic studies currently is a frustrating obstacle to painting and communicating an educated picture of our Gaelic heritage. The encouraging part is that within Scotland, scholars are beginning to piece together the native Gaelic story using Gaelic language resources and perspective. The bad news is that there is precious little scholarship or support for scholarship concerning the incredibly rich and important story of the diaspora Gael. This is important to me. Gaels came to America and Australia and a pocketful of other places, as Gaels. The culture and language has been lost essentially on our watch – in our land – by our people. Let’s get it back!

By: rodger moffet

rodger moffet — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:35:31 +0000

Yes I think there is a ‘new wave of people who are turned off by the stuffy ‘tartanry’ image that persists and is more of a tribute to Sir Walter Scott that in is to highland culture but what worries me about a lot about this new wave is that it also contains just as much fantasy and misinformation as that which it seeks to replace. I’m not specifically referring to the Gaelic culture but more this pseudo Celtic, hairy highland warrior image that is probably more European/Germanic than it is Scottish.

If we were to believe the hype then the highlands were filled with bare chested warriors beating their targe and equally (though less bare chested) women. Were there no farmers, fisherman or artisans? We loose sight of the opportunity to celebrate the ancestors who lived peacefully through good honest toil and the ones who built the ‘big stuff’ that made Scotland great and the envy of the world.

There is a great danger that we replace one set of romantic symbols for another set of romantic symbols – education is the key.

By: John Grimaldi

John Grimaldi — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 03:38:51 +0000

Susan, I only read your post after I commented on the original article. I apologize for my misunderstanding of your post.
Almost all of the organizations I mentioned are run by volunteers and would certainly welcome more support!
As to the academic side of the question, I think that is a very important part of the equation.
I look forward to continuing this discussion!
Leis gach deagh dhùrachd,
Iain

By: John Grimaldi

John Grimaldi — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 03:28:57 +0000

There are many organizations in the US and in Canada that are working hard to promote Gàidhlig, including An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach, Clan Currie and the NY Caledonian Club. There are many others including Slighe nan Gàidheal and the Toronto Gaelic Learners Association.
In my opinion, it is better to acknowledge those who are supporting the language and culture than to rail against Tartanry, etc. I bring Gaelic into the Burns Dinners, Highland Games, muaic festivals and so forth. Burns and other Scots poets are part of my heritage in addition to the bards of Gaeldom. The first invitation I had to sing in Gaelic was in a dance program – mostly Highland, but including National and Stepdance, as well as a Gaelic sing-along.
Is mise le meas,
Iain

By: Susan McIntosh

Susan McIntosh — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 15:19:42 +0000

I am chuffed that the new blog post “Gaelic, Not Gaelic” has stimulated great discussion on social media. There has been an occasional misinterpretation of the message, however, and it is easily cured here.

A few folks have taken away the thought that Gaelic, Not Gaelic expresses the view that “Tartanry” (to use a nickname for a large concept) is “the enemy” of Gaelic American progress. On the contrary, the blog’s message in that respect is expressed in a few places within the blog, including this:

“[Tartanry in the Scottish Diaspora] is not the sin. This is the sin: Contrary Gaelic intrusions into the popular story lines are usually discouraged as being political or, boring, or quaint, or worse yet, absolutely useless and of no interest, as Gaelic is often misunderstood to be a dead end that was properly deposited in the unrecoverable past ages ago.”

In other words, the sin is closed mindedness that results in continued marginalization of Gaelic and Gaelic American heritage. The solution lies in an expansion of the Gaelic movement in the United States that will eventually overcome residual stodginess in favor of cultural diversity.

The blog then goes on to remind the reader that a vigorous Gaelic American community is “not antithetical” to the Scottish clan system. It has been expressed in social media comments that the New York Caledonian Club is doing an outstanding job of integrating Gaelic and not Gaelic Scottish heritage within one larger club community. Awesome! The NYCC can be congratulated for this as well as other forward looking programs.

Nevertheless, in far too many folks’ experience, NYCC is the exception not the rule. I am hopeful that we can all agree that the academic study of Gaelic American history and culture and the progress toward Gaelic language revitalization in the United States are items that could certainly use a boost in enthusiasm, dedication and support. No?

slm