[Ansteorra] Group Status Changes

[HE Chiang]

  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






_______________________________________________
Ansteorra mailing list
Ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org
http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-ansteorra.org




_______________________________________________
Ansteorra mailing list
Ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org
http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-ansteorra.org