Why You Need To Know The Scots-Irish

Parade Magazine ^ | October 3, 2004 | James Webb

[LNewman]

One of the most powerful cultural forces shaping America, they've produced great Presidents, soldiers, inventors, actors and writers. But, as a group, they've remained unvisible. The time has come to change that, says the author.

snip ...

The Scots-Irish are a fiercely independent, individualist people. It goes against their grain to think collectively. But, as America rushes forward into yet another redefinition of itself, the contributions of the Scots-Irish are too great to remain invisible. My culture needs to reclaim itself-stop letting others define, mock and even use it-and is so doing regain its power to shape the direction of America

Because our country needs us.

[Glenmerle]

Ever heard of Steeleye Span?

I love their song "Parcel of Rogues."

[Lurking2Long]

Not a member of a clan myself...I'm about as English as they come...

[roadrunner96]

I looked them up on amazon, I will look for their music.

It groups them with Fairport Convention so; a lot of this music I've only seen visuals for, but I will be on the look out for them.

[Conservative4Ever]

Scots-Irish here...reporting for duty.

Red

[nkycincinnatikid]

too late to read the responses ,but if not already mentioned , you all must get and read "the scottish enlightenment. the scots' invention of the modern world" no hyperbole in that title as you will see if you read.

[Glenmerle]

I haven't heard anything recent from Steeleye Span, but not too long ago I bought two CDs of their (I think) 1970s albums Please to See the King (my favorite) and Below the Salt (with "Parcel of Rogues" on it). They may still be available.

But my favorite Scottish CDs are by a folk duo called the Corries (one of the two died some years back). You might enjoy their music too. One of their songs, "Flower of Scotland," is a sort of unofficial national anthem now.

[Ryan Spock]

George W. Bush

Hail to the President who's all Scot at heart

An oldie-but-goodie from the FR archives...

[Dan from Michigan]

Interesting, even though I'm "Green Irish" here.(Although I do have a slight trace of Scot as well)

[NHResident]

I don';t know how closely most of the respondents read the article but his description of the Scots-Irish character describes them displaying characteristics which I associate more with the term 'sheeple' than the independent thinkers that I generally find at the freerepublic web address.

[LNewman]

I have the "vinyl" on Parcel of Rogues and Below the Salt. Recently downloaded the track "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" ... a Bob Dylan song.

[Plutarch]

This latest book is one of a string of historical books all derived from the same source, which is David Hackett Fischer’s Albion’s Seed.

Albion’s Seed

[LNewman]

The concluding section of Albion's Seed explores the ways that regional cultures have continued to dominate national politics from 1789 to 1988, and still control attitudes toward education, government, gender, and violence, on which differences between American regions are greater than between European nations.

Interesting. Will pick it up when I pick up the Webb book. BTW, Born Fighting just came out on Oct. 1. The only bookstore (checked 3) that had received it, still had it in receiving on pallets and it wasn't on the floor yet.

Thanks!

[LNewman]

Born Fighting shows that the Scots-Irish were 40 percent of the Revolutionary War army; they included the pioneers Daniel Boone,

I have a Boone line, though not traceable to THAT Boone. I run into a lot of Boone researchers without the Daniel connection, and we laughingly refer to each other as "cousin."

[Wiser now]

Scots-Irish-Welsh woman here!

[Ciexyz]

Western PA (my area) was settled by Scots-Irish pioneers in the 1700's. Once the Indian attacks stopped, more settlers poured into this area, to the three rivers of Pittsburgh, then sailed westward down the Ohio River.

Presbyterian ministers traveled on horseback to the various settlements, baptizing and marrying and preaching the Gospel, until the settlers built their own churches. A seminary was established in PA that educated young men to be ministers in the developing congregations.

[martin gibson]

...Bill Monroe BUMP!!!!

[LNewman]

IIRC, Will Rogers was from the part of the Cherokee tribe that was produced by inter-marriage of Cherokees with Scots-Irish settlers.

I think I'm dealing with that at home, but don't know of any of his folks that have researched their line.

[Milly]

Scots-Irish.... Thats me. Born and Raised in Glasgow.
Of Irish Parents.

[Ditto]

Mother Irish, Father Scottish; both 6th generation Americans.

May I suggest that neither of your parents were either Scots or Irish. After 6 generations, it's long past time to give up that old-country nonsense.

I have taught my children that they, their parents, and their grandparents were all born and raised in the US. For them, one needs to go back to long dead ancestors to find anyone born in a foreign land. They are in fact, native Americans -- native by birth, by nationality, by culture and by the Grace of God. They are never to hyphenate their birth right.

Sorry to rant, but this hyphenated-American stuff gives me gas. It's the stuff of division.