[Ansteorra] Group Status Changes

Wed Jul 16 16:10:29 PDT 2008

I think a point that needs recalling is that not all Christians are
fundamentalists.

Just like not all Muslims are fundamentalists.

I can't even say that all fundamentalists are intolerant bigots.  I can't
think of any who AREN'T, but that doesn't mean there aren't any.  I'm hoping
this last comment will bring some out of the woodwork, so I can say that I
know some who aren't, in fact, intolerant bigots.  Hope springs eternal...

Back to our regularly scheduled topic of discussion (the administrative
decisions affecting SCA'ers in western Ansteorra, and "where do we go from
here")?

P&B,
DT+LF

On 7/16/08, HE Chiang <chiang at nts-online.net> wrote:
>
>
>  I do not really think that Don Alden was picking on Christians, per se,
> being one myself. I think that he was just pointing out that some religions
> do seem to have a bias against things they know little of. I have lived in
> Mendersham, in fact I grew up there, and know some about what he is talking
> about. I worked for a guy, that one day said something about the fighting in
> Ireland, between the Catholics and the Christians. McMurry University and
> Abilene Christian University still, as far as I know, requires that students
> attend Chapel and have guards placed at the doors to make sure that you are
> not attending for someone else. They also patrol the bars to make sure
> students are not out drinking.
>  I have also had people say stuff to me when wearing garb, not the usual
> "are you in a play?" but things like calling me a Satan worshipper. Heck, I
> even had to deal with that attitude from my family too, for quite sometime.
> It is something that we have to deal with out here. We fight a lot of
> different biases, because as said below, we seem to be less urban and more
> rural.
>  So I would once again come to Don Alden's rescue, and ask you to not take
> offense at his words. He may be loud and some what obnoxious at times but he
> does mean well. I do not think that he meant to be offensive or put down
> Christianity, just some uninformed biases.
> HE Chiang,
> Baron of Bonwicke
> and as HE Wuya says "Right Winged Christian"
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> I am in a unique position to respond to Don Alden's comments. While I have
> never lived in a large thriving Barony I am one of the founders of the Shire
> of Bonwicke and have also lived in Shire of Brad Leah and now in the Shire
> of Rosenfeld.
>
> I have known Don Alden for many years and during that time I can say
> without any qualm that one his best characteristics is that when he is
> passionate about something he will express his opinion (generally rather
> loudly). He speaks from the heart often without stopping to consider the way
> his words will be received. I have never known him to be inflammatory on
> purpose, but he often is due to his personality.
>
> The Western most region of Ansteorra has always had and continues to
> maintain a personality of its own. The people of the "Region" work closely
> together to hold what were regional events before Ansteorra had
> administrative regions because the area is mostly rural or has rural feel to
> it even in the more urban areas. We thought nothing of piling five people in
> my car along with armor, weapons and a couple of looms and driving to
> Blacklake on moment's notice because they needed help with a program and
> didn't have enough people.
>
> When the Administrative regions were formed I was one of the Great Officers
> and we talked about splitting the area between the Northern and Central
> Region, but decided that it would cause hard feelings if the area was placed
> into different administrative regions despite the low population density.
> The division that was discussed some fifteen years back has occurred and the
> concerns that were expressed are coming to pass in that people do feel hurt
> and betrayed by the Kingdom officers and Crown. I have spoken with the
> current officers on this topic and I do not believe there was any malice on
> their parts simply an attempt to take paperwork burdens from overworked
> people who were having difficulty maintaining a full slate of officers. As
> in the past the population density is still low in that geographic region
> compared to the more urban areas of our Kingdom.
> I have found it more difficult to recruit people to the SCA in Rosenfeld
> than I did in Bonwicke.
>
> As is true of an area that focuses primarily on petroleum and agriculture
> as the two primary industries, the people as a general rule are very
> conservative in many of their views. That said I also found more people per
> capita willing to explore history and to look at the SCA as a viable pastime
> in that region than in any other part of Ansteorra. The people who find the
> SCA in the west and move to other parts of the Known World or who remain
> there are passionate about the SCA and its activities. Quite often they are
> also holding at least two sometimes three offices to get everything done
> with the release of the administrative region the people will be able to
> focus on their passions within the SCA which is what drew them here in the
> first place and not the paperwork.
>
> I know that if people truly want to participate in the SCA they will find a
> way. They may not have an official Barony/Shire/Canton within 100 miles but
> they might have 4 to 6 friends with 10 to 20 miles that can get together
> once a week or so to do arts or fighter practice and then may once a month
> or however their budgets can handle it go to the nearest official branch for
> their arts day/fighter practice business meeting.
> Gee awesome! No offices to hold; no paperwork to do; no official
> responsibilities. Just have fun and give the "Dream" a chance come back to
> life in your heart.
>
> Mistress Rhiannon fech Cian
>
>
>
>
>
>
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