A 6-foot-tall, 250-pound letter carrier is campaigning for the right to take off his pants. Dean Peterson wants the U.S. Postal Service to add kilts as a uniform option for men.
The idea was soundly defeated in July at a convention of his union, the 220,000-member National Letter Carriers’ Association, so Peterson knows convincing management will be an uphill struggle, but at least he’ll be comfortable in his kilt, or Male Unbifurcated Garment.
“In one word, it’s comfort,” he said.
With his build, Peterson said, his thighs fill slacks to capacity, causing chafing and scarring.
“Unbifurcated Garments are far more comfortable and suitable to male anatomy than trousers or shorts because they don’t confine the legs or cramp the male genitals the way that trousers or shorts do,” he wrote. “Please open your hearts — and inseams — for an option in mail carrier comfort!”
My extended family has had it’s share of mailmen – as well as cops and soldiers – and in varying circumstances the latter two job descriptions have been allowed kilts. I think the option is due for the U.S.P.S., as well.
As long as they are in MASCULINE colors for the men, they should be allowed. Wait, doesn’t the US constitution already allow for this kind of freedom or am I confusing our freedoms with those of other countries…..
The only reason men can’t wear skirts is some remnants of sexual bigotry. The same with men having long hair or jewelry took a long time to be accepted.
While kilts are not my favorite apparel, I have no problem with some other guy wearing one. The other bigots around here would though.
I think it’s funny that there are people out there who actually care about what their mail carriers are wearing. None of the postal employees in my neighborhood look good (or bad) enough for me to look at them twice. They could be wearing kilts now for all I know.
I’ve met a few guys who insist on wearing skirts and they were all quite odd.
I don’t mean transvestites — who often have their own issues — but straight guys who really really want to wear skirts. They were all a little strange.
I suppose it is because shorts are every bit as comfortable as skirts. So why the urge to wear a skirt?
How would I know? I’ve actually worn a “skirt” quite a few times!
In southern India they wear something called a “lungi” which is essentially a long skirt. But, of course, it isn’t strange to wear it there.
I’m 6ft 4in and 255lb and I walk at least 2 miles a day and have no trouble wearing pants. I find it odd that he says wearing pants causes chafing and scarring. Maybe look into some relaxed fit pants?
That being said, a kilt isn’t any more silly looking on a mail man than those shorts they wear. As long as my mail gets here I don’t care what the person delivering it wears.
On a trip to Florida in 1972 or there abouts I had a layover in the Atlanta airport. Seated beside me was a Scotsman in full military uniform, battle insignia, the full nine yards. On his leg was strapped the baddest combat knife I have ever seen. They let him fly that way. There was no doubt that the Kilt was not demanding the attention of his fellow travelers. Nobody was looking at the Kilt. Nobody had the slightest doubt as to his manhood.
>> jccalhoun said, on August 9th, 2008 at 8:34 am
>> I’m 6ft 4in and 255lb and I walk at least 2 miles a day and have no trouble wearing pants.
Good for you. How much would you weigh if you DIDN’T walk two miles a day? 🙂
I’m a fairly big guy too — and I have no trouble finding loose shorts or any kind of clothes.
At my age and size, I generally avoid shorts figuring it’s a kind of public service to keep fully clothed!
I honestly don’t care what my carrier wears but if I saw him in a skirt, I would assume he’s strange.
Considering the reputation of postal carriers, that’s not a good thing.
I don’t care if his skirt was pink or green polka-dots. People get too hung-up on what we cover our nakedness with. I enjoy seeing those who venture into the beige-grey public, with unusual garb of creative and dazzling colour.
I recently rediscovered by Scottish heritage and purchased the full-blown outfit — not the cheap canvas knockoffs but the Geoffrey (Tailor) 8-yard wool kilt with wool socks, sporan, everything, direct from Edinburgh, Scotland.
I wore it for the first time the other day. I must say that in the Texas Summer the kilt was VERY comfortable. I was afraid wearing all that wool in Texas would be too much but it wasn’t. It was more comfortable than wearing shorts, IMO.
And interestingly enough, I got more smiles and winks from women I didn’t know. The wife found it amusing but tended to stay close in case any of them wanted to know what I was wearing underneath.
Sitting down is a chore, what with the pleats and all. And forget crossing your legs in the manly way 🙂
I run my computer with the cover off. Why not wear a kilt. Got to keep the equipment cool.
http://www.kiltmen.com/
i own 4 kilts that i wear year round. much more comfortable than pants or shorts.
I think guys in kilts look haWt. . he he Quite a few do around here, in the Pacific NW. Long hair can look good too, but only if they keep it up – too many have hair that looks stringy or greasy, yuk.
(then again, there are also a lot of fuchsia mohawks, weird body piercings, etc. too, so ya, anything goes pretty much, around here – ahhhh, life in the bizarro city!)
In other cultures, “skirts” on men are routine – especially in hot climates. Helps air-out your naughty bits, no? 😉
As long as he doesn’t wear very shiny shoes , I don’t see any problem with it at all.
Yeah, but what would they wear UNDER THE KILT ??? But wait, we probably don’t want to know !!!
>> MaTa said,
>> I think guys in kilts look haWt. . he he Quite a few do around here, in the Pacific NW
Where do you live in the PNW?
I’m here in Portland OR and I don’t see kilts or male skirts too often.
I do see lots of creepy piercings, gaudy tattoos, pink hair, shaved heads and all the other stuff — to the point of it all being a huge cliché.