Why we are the Highlanders
What's a bit of Scotland doing in the middle of an ethnically-diverse community like La Habra, California?
There's more to it than you might think.
First of all, it isn't overused by other schools. Most school mascots are animals or mythological figures.
But more than that, the Highlander theme is actually about something more substantial than furry creatures and ancient gods.
Highlanders inhabit the Highlands, the northern part of mainland Scotland. Highlanders have been known throughout history for their fierce fighting spirit, their love of freedom and their bonds of family.
Highlanders have never had it easy. They have had their land invaded, their rights persecuted and their traditions scorned. Even the bagpipe was ruled illegal at one point--as an instrument of war.
The Scots' contributions to the human race are legendary. Even the United States Congress acknowledged this when in 1998, they declared April 6th as Tartan Day, in honor of Americans of Scottish heritage and their contributions. April 6 is the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, which is considered the Scottish declaration of independence. This document contains some pretty stirring stuff, including the following:
For as long as a hundred of us are left alive, never we will on any conditions be brought under British rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honors that we are fighting but for freedom--for that alone, which no good man surrenders but with his life.
It's not surprising that the Declaration of Arbroath served as the blueprint 456 years later for Thomas Jefferson when he was working on our own Declaration of Independence. Suitably, nearly half of the original signers of that Declaration were of Scottish blood.
The heritage of the Scottish nation and Highlanders in particular is consistent with the best qualities of mankind, and is as colorful as mankind itself. What sets Scotland apart is the tradition of the clan, or family. Clan is a Gaelic word meaning "children." All who offer their allegiance to a clan remain members of that clan forever and are entitled to the protection and fellowship of their kinsmen.
Clans are spread all over the place in the Highlands. A gathering is a way of bringing everyone together to regain their kinship and to celebrate coming home to their family.
The spirit of clan transcends race and culture, as the Scottish nation is richly diverse in both. For instance, many people aren't aware that in 1588, many ships of the Armada, the great fighting fleet of Spain, sank off the Scottish coast. Survivors swam ashore and settled. Their blood flows within Scotsmen to this day.
It is completely in keeping with the spirit of the Highland clans that LHHS was one
of the first integrated schools in the area. All races--Latino, Asian, African-American and more--attended class
together for the first time.
As La Habra Highlanders, we celebrate and honor the tradition.