Re: may acorn, g&pd 6 (somewhat inflammatory)

["Thorpe, John" <JThorpe@greenville.ClemsonSC.ATTGIS.COM>]

Greetings from Ellwood unto the denziens of the Dead Horse, and most
especially to Lord Tadhg!

Scripsit Tadhg:
%     It is nice to be back in fair Atlantia after an extended jaunt into An 

%     Tir...it is far less nice to see a lengthy letter in the ACORN
%     explaining how to carry myself in public at demos. Especially when the 

%     pointers are suggestions to simultaneously appease the KKK and the
%     ACLU.

*ick*  Tadhg, where did *that* supposition come from?  Admittedly, we *are*
trying not to offend the general public.  I didn't read anything about 
specific
groups being mentioned.  Yes, we are trying to be a bit more PC (gag), but
we have to get along in the world we live in today.

%     Thanks so much...I don't belong to either.

Neither do I.  What is your point?

%     I will continue to refer to the SCA as the Society...and this group as 

%     a "nonprofit educational organization devoted to medieval
%     re-creation." Po-tay-to...po-tah-to...it's all rather silly.

Yes.  It is silly.  I think that rather than simply referring to it as "the 
Society"
without actually giving it its full title might be more what Master Thomas 
was
speaking of.     If you never make reference to "the Society for Creative
Anachronism" before abbreviating it to the "Society", then that will 
naturally
lead to confusion in some people.  Once you've established the identity
of the SCA, *then* you can start to refer to it as the "Society" to shorten
your dialog.  You will want to refer to it with its full title occasionally 
to
reinforce people's memory.

%     As for "long black robes or cloaks", Master Thomas was probably
%     referring to ecclesiastical vestments. That's fine, I don't want
%     anyone passing themselves off as a priest, bishop, cardinal, etc. But
%     don't wear black--don't be silly.

I won't second guess what Master Thomas was trying to say, but there is
a *perception* by the general public in this region about what someone
running around in a black cloak carrying a sword is.  You live a bit further
north than Master Thomas or I, and I think the tolerance level for diversity
is much greater where you live than it is here.

I agree, I don't want someone passing themselves as an ecclesiastic
leader of some sort, but I also don't want the public to get the impression
that we are members of a cult/coven/etc.  A lot of what people think is
influenced by the TV and newspapers, and the reality is that TV portrays
people in black cloaks (that aren't preachers) as the "bad guys".
Master Thomas does not FORBID anyone to wear black, he just asks
us to avoid wearing it to demos.

%     And as far as telling ANYONE they can't wear or display a cross or any 

%     other personal religious object, Brother, you better be ready for the
%     lawsuit--in America, that's "freedom of religion". You'll get to meet
%     the ACLU in an OFFICIAL capacity. Atlantia needs THAT a LOT less than
%     I can ever say.

Again, this has been the subject of considerable debate in other forums.
However, re-reading Master Thomas' missive:

     "Since demos are a significant aspect of our public outreach, we
must meticulously avoid the appearance of religious affiliation; i.e., avoid
long black garb and cloaks, no religious symbols of any sort, use the term
'Middle Ages' instead of 'Medieval'..."

OK, I see where you might interpret his words to say that religious icons 
are
forbidden.  Of course, *I* may be reading it wrong.  I still read it as 
saying that
we should *avoid* a particular appearance, and the list gives detailed
information on *how* to do that.  It does not expressly forbid us from doing
*anything*.  As others have also observed, these are guidelines, NOT
rules.  You are to use your own judgement in dealing with the public, just
remember, someone else may have to exercise damage control after
the public gets the wrong impression.

Now as to using Middle Ages instead of Medieval....  Down in *this* part
of Atlantia, we have had problems with people not understanding "Medieval".
We have actually gotten serious questions like, "Is that between high evil
and low evil?"  We have had other similar problems.  By using the term
"Middle Ages," we have successfully avoided those problems at demos.

For my further thoughts, read my reply to Lord Michael Ryan's missive.
The gist is that we want to make a good impression.  Dress, speak, and
behave appropriately.  This is only common sense.

In service,
Ellwood
BBC