(USians of Scottish Descent, in my experience, tend to only get aggressive about it if drinks are being selected, or if their name happens to be Ian Bruce (McRealLastName) and they happen to be my brother.)
I dunno. I've been at some Highland gatherings where you'd swear everyone there thinks he'd be laird of Glenwhatever if he only had his rights, where I talk up my fractional Fraser-ness because it would seem a social faux pas to admit I'm mostly Scots-Irish and therefore a Lowlander, and that I'm there for the bagpipes and beautiful men in kilts and gorgeous jewelry and clothes at the craft booths.
Mmmm, beautiful men in kilts...good times, good times. Must find where gatherings are held in Seattle area....
PMM, is this directed at me?
No, we just cross posted because I'm typing slower than a slow thing today. I need to cut my nails.
And you can't brew a beer in the Czech city of Budwar and call it Budweiser. The Czechs are quite annoyed by that.
Actually, it's Ceske Budjejovice, and the
German
name of the town is Budweiser. The Czechs sell it as Budvar in the Czech Republic, Budweiser in the rest of Europe and Czechvar here.
Trademark laws concerning use of one's own last name are a bit complicated; you generally have that right.
I got married on St. Patrick's Day and thought the attendees might all wear green making for cool pictures. They didn't. Oh well. Proceed.
you'd swear everyone there thinks he'd be laird of Glenwhatever if he only had his rights,
But of course. And completely overlooking the little male-line-descent thing.
The McDonalds are one of the most powerful families in the world? Someone should really tell the Bushes, the House of Fahd, the Gateses...
Sadly no-longer. However, lacking power doesn't make assurption right nor the name less cherished.
"For cruel is the snow the sweeps Glencoe, and covers the graves of MacDonald, and cruel was the foe that raped Glencoe, and murdered the house of MacDonald"
The Czechs sell it as Budvar in the Czech Republic, Budweiser in the rest of Europe and Czechvar here.
I stand corrected. (How does it taste, by the way? My husband has loved Pilsner Urquell ever since his parents were stationed in Prague.)
The Czechs sell it as Budvar in the Czech Republic, Budweiser in the rest of Europe and Czechvar here.
Czechvar? You're shitting me? Gosh.
But the McDonald's restaurant was started by people named McDonald. They didn't just grab the name; it was theirs.
And if you want to read some very gentle (but hilarious) fun poked at silly Americans can get celebrating their "Scots Heritage" read "Highland Laddie Gone" by Sharon McCrumb. There is a Scottish Festival held in (I believe) Virgina or West Virginia (West Virginia is a very different state from Virginia for you Non-USAians). So all the Americans are wearing kilts, and have border collie contests and dirk throwing, and celtic music, and speaking in what Americans think are scottish accents; comes to visit an actual upper middle class Glassgow Scott - one who listens to the Beeb, and enjoys the comedy of "The Duke" . (You Scottish folks will have to tell me who this is; I gather he was a very hip comedian at a time when hip was a comtemporary compliment.) And there is the romantic view of Scottish history, compared to a more realistic one. And there is lots of snark on a personal level. One of the characters is described as suffering from having been "bitten by Noel Coward". And Sharon McCrumb is talented enough to give some lines worthy of Coward. And the main character gets to have a romance with the Scottish visitor. And, oh yes there is a murder mystery in there too, but to tell you the truth I enjoyed the rest of it so much, I did not pay any attention to that part of it.
