Recent threads have caused me to pause in thought. Where does our common culture come from One strain of the melody that is America is From the Scots and The Scots Irish.

Take a look at the words of the following Song and you can't wonder why American use slogans like "Live Free Or Die!" A recent article in USA Today irritated me because it downgraded American patriotism or the veneration we give our Vets in comparison to observance of Veterans Days in Israel. (There's a whole lot to say on that subject but this may not be the place.) It's useless to reply in print to something in USA Today. But I'd like others to understand American's cultural traditions are from very distinct places and not at all that diverse until the last 60 years.

It has been pointed out that the soldiers in the regiments on both sides of the US Civil War could have been taken from A British Regimental List

Grant Lee Sherman Meade..

I've heard that upwards of 60% and of all American Militia and soldiers in the Revolutionary War were Scots Irish. Is that why our Folk Music so much of the time sounds like it's from the Highlands?

Scots, wha' hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots wham Bruce has often led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to Victorie!
Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour,
See approach proud Edward's pow'r
Chains and slaverie!

2. Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!
Wha for Scotland's King and law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw?
Freeman stand, or freeman fa'?
Let him follow me!

3. By oppression's woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!
Lay the proud usurper low!
Tyrants fall in ev'ry foe!
Liberty's in ev'ry blow!
Let us do or die!

Wes Prichard
Auburn Washington.