Well, its this Saturday, April 23, that the special convention is to be held with the idea of revising the SCV Constitution.
Has there been any word at all if this convention is legal or proper and is it gaining widespread support of the SCV membership?
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
As of last week optimism was high locally and our contingent are planning to attend with our thirteen or so votes. This is legal as outlined in the SCV constitution. Politics, alas, can be found under every leaf. We'll have to wait and see who shows up at the poles. No rumors of opposition, but I'm sure they told Grant and Lee the same thing.
As an aside, from someone I think can view the current situation without passion and a clear field of vision, you comfortable with what's going on in the SCV at present?
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
I have limited working knowledge of the detailed facts of the situation and am only judging by my contacts with some folks who have indeed been on the inside. As far as my opinion as to the relative health of this activity, I suspect it is for the best. This action, the convention, has been sold as nothing more than an attempt to economize the controlling structure of a large rambling organization made up of many diverse parts, both philosophically and geographically. This has been attempted before but met with resistance and apparently superior political savy. Ex commanders-in-chief are immediately elevated to the governing body after their exit from office for an unlimited period of 'service'. It appears we have an over abundance of ex-chiefs with a life-time appointment to the cookie jar, much as with the supreme court. This attempt is stated as nothing more than an effort to let these folks be cycled out of control after a defined period of time, term limits if you will. That would allow officers who have recently stood for election by the membership to, in fact, operate the organization. That has got to be a good thing?
That's a very good explanation of what I too think is going on, Larry. We will all just have to wait and see what happens. Someone spoke of democracy still being alive. I truly hope so.
__________________ Thea
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
From my perspective, this is about the saddest thing I have ever been witness to. The SCV, a once proud organization, is fractured by those who want to promote "Southern Heritage". While some tip-toe around this subject, my SCV Camp has called it, racism.
Where were all these folks when the KKK took the battle flag for their own? Why do people complain when people of color are offended by flying the battle flag (or derivation thereof) over a state capitol building? Well, the horse is out of the barn. All these groups do is make the matters worse, someday forcing the flag from the historical perspective of a reenactment.
As this mess started, I gave up my multi-decade membership. These "national" folks are scoundrels at best. No need to be involved. What is left is the morbid curiousity of watching an automobile wreck on the side of the road, nothing more.
My own observation is that you may have jumped to conclusions. I've met many SCV and SUV members who don't have a clue about national "politics" nor do they care. These folks are celebrating their heritage and a genuine interest in the civil war and that period of our nation's development. Many thousands of re-enactors both north and south aren't hung up on the antics of a few pompous old ......s with greatly over-extended egos. Racism has no place in this organization or any other.
While I agree, how does one affiliate with a national organization without regard for the environment it fosters? Recently, so many of the images I see of the SCV are not what the organization is chartered to be.
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