[Ansteorra] Kansas State historical society bans re-enactments of war or violence

[Aurore Gaudin]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
Ok zoos need to double count their ostriches, seems as there are some loose and hiding their heads in the ground.

As for the battles if it was this easy to cancel them now, think how happy the guys back then would have been.

Robert you didn't offend me at all, quite the opposite, you give a good gift of laughter.

Aurore
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Burke McCrory
  To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org
  Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2002 1:33 PM
  Subject: [Ansteorra] Kansas State historical society bans re-enactments of war or violence


  I received this from a friend in a civil war group.  Looks like it could
  apply to SCA activities as well.

  Sir Burke


  >Posted on Tue, Feb. 26, 2002 (Kansas City Star web page)
  >
  >State historical society bans re-enactments of war or violence
  >
  >JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - This might have been "Bleeding Kansas" in the 19th
  >Century, but visitors to properties managed by the Kansas State Historical
  >Society won't see any blood.
  >
  >The historical society recently banned re-enactments of war or violence at
  >properties it manages, and some state historians aren't pleased.
  >
  >"It is impossible to tell the story of Kansas without mentioning
  >violence," said Scott Price, a historian and former president of the
  >Friends of the First Territorial Capital at Fort Riley.
  >
  >Ramon Powers, the state society's executive director, said the decision
  >was based on "our general view of the kind of audience that we are trying
  >to reach out to. Particularly in light of events of Sept. 11, it is not
  >appropriate to engage in those kind of activities, or have them at our
  >facilities."
  >
  >The Historical Society's policy says there are some situations where
  >demonstrations of historical military tactics or weapons usage might
  >be an appropriate form of interpretation, but does not define those
  >situations.
  >
  >Beginning in 1855, bloody battles and political unrest ravaged the Kansas
  >frontier. The struggle eventually led Kansas to be admitted into the Union
  >as a free state.
  >
  >That history, Price said cannot be effectively taught without re-enactments.
  >
  >"We live in a visual age," he said. "Now, more than ever in our nation's
  >history, a picture is worth a thousand words."
  >
  >Good re-enactments go beyond the visual, Price said.
  >
  >During some of the two- and three-day re-enactments that are popular in
  >Kansas, visitors walk through simulated Civil War camps.
  >
  >"They see the fires, smell the bacon and hear the soldiers answer roll
  >call," Price said. "A good re-enactment brings history alive."
  >
  >Powers countered that there are other, more family-friendly ways to teach
  >history.
  >
  >"It really is not history itself," he said of re-enactments. "The real
  >gore of battle is not represented. You could almost argue that we make
  >violence appealing if we engage in it in this controlled way."
  >
  >Re-enactments do not glorify war, Price said, but focus on the stories of
  >those who fought for a way of life.
  >
  >"It is very important for people to realize that Abe Lincoln didn't sign a
  >piece of paper in Washington and free the slaves. Men and boys from all
  >over the country had to go put on a blue uniform, load muskets and fire at
  >fellow human beings across the field," he said.

  _______________________________________________
  Ansteorra mailing list
  Ansteorra at ansteorra.org
  http://www.ansteorra.org/mailman/listinfo/ansteorra
--