NR - Re: Regional Identity

[Chris Backus]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lori Campbell" <LCAMPBEL at ossm.edu>
To: <northern at ansteorra.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 7:04 PM
Subject: NR - Re: Regional Identity


> > Rowan said:
> > I tend to agree with the idea that creating a regional identity is
not
> > creating a sense of isolationalism from the rest of Ansteorra.
>
> Isn't it?  I think it was Merrik who said that at Pennsic the phrase
> was "Ansteorra is Texas..."  That's a pretty common feeling around
> the Kingdom these days.  I think our devotion to regional identity
> has created the perception that we (the region) want to be separate
> from the whole (or at least that's what I hear from *many* of my
> friends in other regions).
>
> I know that fewer northern folks journey outside this region (when
> they do it is usually for a Crown or Coronation) and fewer folks
> from other regions come to Northern events.  The sad part is that
> folks don't recognize kingdom leaders when they see them.  Just last
> weekend at Mooneschadowe we were honored to have the Baron of
> Bonwicke visit, but I can't count the number of times I was asked
> "whose that guy in the pointy hat?" by folks who are very active
> regionally.  .

I think it is a circular phenomenon.  The North is different in many
ways, which leads people to not travel as much outside the north,
which leads to a growing difference in the North.  I think it would be
a surprise if everyone had recognized HE Vallust, but there are a
large number of Barons from regions distant from ours.  How many would
recognize HE Chrystal from Raven's Fort? (Just an example of someone I
don't remember visiting us, nothing specific).

>
> I'm not saying regional patriotism is entirely to blame for this.
> The crowded calendar and several other factors also contribute.  I
> do think it plays a major role.  The North isn't unique either;
other
> regions have fallen into a similar way of thinking.  I just hate
that
> boundaries originally intended to ease the burden of kingdom
> administration are now beginning to isolate entire groups of
> people.
>
> > I do have one question though:  Is there something "wrong"
> > with creating a regional identity?
>
> If folks want to rally under that kind of banner, then that is
> their choice, however, tolerance goes both ways.  The folks who
> are on the bandwagon for the "region" need to understand and respect
> that there are folks who aren't along for the ride.  Like it or not,
> folks in this region (some in leadership roles) have been strongly
> criticized for not "supporting the region."
>
> For my part, allegiance to an administrative region of the
> kingdom, or likewise a geographical area, just doesn't thrill me.  I
> think it was our society seneschal who told me that Ansteorra is the
> only kingdom in the known world with a Regional system and active
> regional patriotism (it's been a while, that might have changed by
> now).  I guess to me the whole concept of loyalty to an
> administrative region feels too much like fealty to a democracy or
> beaurocracy.  It would make more sense to call a spade a spade and
> say they were promoting "principality."  Truth is truth, no matter
> what you call it.

The region may have been a bureaucratic division, but the people who
are patriotic toward the North aren't patriotic because "we get our
reports in on time." or any other bureaucratic reason.  We see the
North as home and home as slightly different from the rest of the
Kingdom.  It doesn't mean to me that I'm not primarily Ansteorran, but
I'm also interested in seeing where this region could go.

>
> Kat  >^.,.^<

Hawkins

============================================================================
Go to http://lists.ansteorra.org/lists.html to perform mailing list tasks.