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

[Burke McCrory]

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.