ForeverFree
Major
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2010
- Location
- District of Columbia
Sir,
Every reenacting unit I've been associated with for over 25 years (US or CSA), the bylaws were very detailed on not allowing political or racial issues be put out by the members of the units. I was in a CSA unit in TN and had a member start with racial slurs and personal beliefs. He was warned by our SGT. He repeated the slurs at another event and he was promptly ask to immediately leave the event by our unit. He was voted out of the unit at the next meeting. That was the only case I've witnessed, not to say it doesn't happen in other units/events. I would hope not. To me its a hobby and not a political statement. To me, one day I might be CSA and the next US depending on what is required to even out the numbers. I would hope that spectators or others would understand that. Being lumped in with racist and ****s for being interested in history and what was called for years a "civil war buff" is a vial thing to endure.
Again, this goes to the point I was making about the article. The article seems to be saying that reenactments are places where we can learn about the various issues surrounding the war in a "nuanced" way. I don't see that. But I do think, as said earlier, that reenactments do teach us stuff about military history, material culture, and about the stories of the soldiers. Which has some value.
- Alan