In a message dated 9/19/01 8:31:54 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<< The audiences do indeed enjoy learning about Civil War living conditions
but pay their money to see the battles, hear the mortars and cannons, and
watch screaming people "die.">>

Like people did at First Manassas...

That's a pity if that's indeed true, because many reenactors I know are
dedicated to the educational process, and not just as lip-service.    They
also wish to honor the valor of those men, and understand (perhaps recapture)
a point in time when such things mattered.   They wish to transmit this
information, as cultural heritage.  Perhaps they don't succeed, but their
intentions are for the very most part, not base.

Of course some reenactors do just come to shoot guns, too.  Unfortunately.
Eventually the people who go for the booming of cannon &c. stop coming back,
certainly the reenactors who don't take things seriously get driven off (oh
yes, they do.)


Very few people (reenactment spectators or otherwise) can discuss or analyse
our Civil War in any kind of detailed fashion (through no fault of
reenactors, I should add)  If you want to argue that people come to hear the
booming of the cannon, you may be right in many instances, but not so much in
a spirit of gore mongering, but one of historical misunderstanding.
Unfortunately, the noise and pageantry are all these folks may know coming
in.  Ideally, they will come away with something different, if they talk to
me they do (that's the best part for me!)

I've been asked by far too many concerned children, "No one really died, did
they?" to believe that people come licking their chops in anticipation of the
mock gore.  If reenactors are guilty of any serious sins, (and I assume this
may be your chief criticism) it would be in toning down the bloodletting to
an unrealistic point.   I've never seen a reenactment's aftermath look like
any of Matthew Brady or Andrew Gardner photographs, which are beyond
nauseating.

<<One wonders how we will re-enact the events of last week, which have the
potential of changing America forever. >>(As did the Civil War...)

I am shocked you would ask such a question.
The only part I or any other reenactor would hope to see reenacted is the
overwhelming volunteer spirit being shown by the American people in these
times.

However, the events of last week are being reenacted every five minutes with
gratuitous repetitions of the attacks on the news, repetitions of various
leaders elaborating on the same points endlessly.  To be honest, I have not
been exposed to much new information since last week.  Our mourning is being
processed for us, without room for reflection or reconsideration.

Let me turn this question around.  How many museums are going to be willing
to tell the whole truth (whatever that may turn out to be) about the
unfolding geopolitical condition - in the face of future political
correctness?

Mark St. John, MA.
Living Heritage Inc.

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).