SC - CA13 and bath feasts

[LrdRas at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/6/99 12:12:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
memorman at oldcolo.com writes:

<<terrible stink about the SCA "losing it's nonprofit status" for mailing
pornography through the US Post Office>>

Art is not considered pornography. Anything that shows educational merit and 
is not SPECIFICALLY geared toward 'prurient' interests (whatever that vague 
bit of legal hogwash means) is not illegal which is why they did not loose 
their nonprofit status.

<< (several people filed complaints with the PO) >>

There are always a vocal minority of off the wall self-righteous people that 
make things intolerable for the free citizen.

<<and not only was the issue pulled >>

Unnecessarily, IMO, since the mailing had already been accomplished, it would 
have had to have been requested through the Clerk's office by anyone else 
wanting it.

<<but the CA editor was dumped.>>

There always has to be a scapegoat. <sigh> My sympathies go out to this 
courageous and unbiased person.

<< Back to bathing and feasting...>>

Yea, politics always works up a sweat and gives me an appetite. :-)
 
 <<This picture, or another like it, ....<snip>....I have seen several 
similar ones, both painting and woodcuts. Bathing seemed often to be a 
communal activity.  >>

Correct. It was not until this century that communal bathing became 
inexplicably associated with 'wrongness'. For what it's worth 'The Medieval 
Underworld,' by Andrew Mc Call (Barnes and Noble. 1979 (1993). ISBN 
0-88029-714-X) has a similar bathing scene attributed to a 'stewe' (licensed 
house of prostitution). the unique thing abbot it is that it shows food and 
drink being served to the patron and her client. The serving of food and 
drink was illegal in houses of prostitution from at least the time of Henry 
the VIII which causes me to wonder if the shock value of the picture is not 
so much the naked revelers but rather their flaunting of the law by feasting 
and fu...... well you know what I mean.

<<As to actually doing a hot tub feast, I think not.>>

Mores the pity. I have made several private inquiries over the past several 
days and at least 11 people would be willing to attend such a feast. If I 
ever pull it off, I'll let you know the details.
 
 <<Elaina >>

Yours in Service to the Dream, 

Ras
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