|
There appears to be a movement to stop historical reenactments that celebrate our history. To those of us who love to study our history and portray it, this seems senseless. Why would any citizen of the USA want to stop historical reenactments?
Is it possible that someone or some group is funding a move to continue erasing our history by canceling reenactments? Are some people or groups so filled with hate by our history that they wish to erase it? If the answer to these questions is either maybe or yes, the next question is why.
Many feel that there is a political movement that is threatened by our history. I don’t know if that is so, and I hope it isn’t. Some feel that erasing our history is the first step to establishing an authoritarian government. I hope not. Some folks insist that racism and white supremacy is ingrained in our history and culture. Some of these people speak of reenactors as people celebrating slavery and white supremacy. I don’t think so.
First, let me state categorically that slavery is and was WRONG.
Portuguese sailed along the coast of Africa, wishing to trade for gold, beginning in the 1430’s. They didn’t get much gold but by 1500, they had bought and resold 80,000 African slaves. Note that they didn’t capture the slaves, they bought the slaves. They bought the African slaves from other Africans. Alex Haley in his magnificent book ROOTS told how his ancestor, Kunta Kinte, was captured by other Africans while he was looking for a stump to make into a drum.
The USA and Americans did not invent slavery. They accepted it as the status quo because it was worldwide. It is accepted that the first 20 African slaves arrived in Virginia in 1619. In that same ship were one hundred Irish children to be sold. Between 1642 and 1651, 300,000 Irish slaves were sold in the New World. In the 1650’s, 100,000 children between the ages of 10 and 14 were sold in the English colonies in the western hemisphere.
I might add that I have never met a reenactor who ever owned a slave. I have never met a reenactor who reenacts to celebrate slavery. I have never met a reenactor who believes that slavery was ever right. Yet, reenactors acknowledge that it existed as part of our (and the world’s) history.
Slavery was wrong, but it was supported by the Islamic states and many other nations. It was wrong, but our ancestors in the 18th century were not the inventors of slavery.
Why is a vocal (and silly) segment of our society insistent that our history is racist, that our founding fathers were uniquely racist and should be erased from history.
Reenactments honor history, events in history and the people involved. Reenactments are not held to celebrate wrongs in history but rather to acknowledge history.
Today, a section of society is using the strife between white Americans and native indigenous people (Indians) as a reason to attack our history and historical reenactments.
Is this being done to prevent native indigenous people’s (Indian’s) feelings from being hurt, or is it being done to dishonor and erase our history?
In New York, reenactors are not allowed to possess or use muzzleloaders at reenactments. Why?
Reenactors, the reenactment community, must come up with an intelligent response to this nonsense. Furthermore, we must find a way to continue reenactments.
Reenactments and reenactments have value to our society.
Several years ago, I wrote the following:
Suppose they gave a reenactment, and no spectators came? What if 100 serious, dedicated re-enactors showed up with clothing and accoutrements that they had invested hundreds of hours of research and work into and there was no one to see it but other re-enactors?
I know some re-enactors who salivate at the thought of restricted events. I will go so far as to say that I have attended several such events and have tried to keep pictures period-authentic when there were spectators. I had a wonderful time at restricted events. The fact that I had a wonderful time, however, means nothing. I had a wonderful time living in a tent two miles from Balikasher, Turkey. I have a better time when I am simultaneously living in yesterday and touching tomorrow.
Like good teachers, re-enactors can profoundly affect young people. We can (and do) demonstrate a lifestyle that their video games and mall experiences cannot touch. The smart aleck sixth grader I knew from a middle school was in absolute awe of the re-enactors at the 2006 battle of Blue Licks event. He asked more questions and displayed more curiosity than I ever seen him display in a classroom at Bryan Station Middle School. He wasn’t worried about appearing “cool” or disinterested. His interest shined like a lighthouse beacon in the darkest night, and he was amazed that the basis of our knowledge was books.
We re-enactors have had a mission thrust upon us. In a world when many educators and politicians use the shield of political correctness to protect them from reality, we are historically correct. I will emphasize that most of us are historically correct and proud of it. We, and our interaction with spectators, may be the deciding factor in bringing an interest in history to a young person.
This occurred in one of my classes while I was student teaching in May 1999. The subject was world civilization, and the topic was the American Revolution. I took my Continental Army uniform and several accoutrements to the classroom. After the students examined the items, a young man asked to wear the coat. I let him wear the coat and began the lesson. His hand was constantly in the air when I asked questions. This C student began making A’s in world civilization.
At re-enactments, we are a strong opposition to the segment of education and society that is attempting to eradicate history and tradition from American life and American education ------ and we have our work cut out for us. The Berea community school system stopped having Christmas Parties and began having holiday parties several years ago. I was informed by the principal that Christmas is not compatible with cultural diversity.
The diluting of American history in the school setting is meant to spread diversity and adhere to political correctness rather than to teach history to tradition and celebrate our democracy. Anyone who thinks that I am exaggerating need only look to the Enola Gay exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum. Before Veterans’ groups became involved, the exhibit was anti-American. It focused on the theory that the United States started the war with Japan and unnecessarily used atomic weapons on Japan. When public pressure changed the exhibit, the history PhD assembling the original exhibit stated that the change did not matter because he, and those who think like him, were writing the textbooks and the standardized tests.
Another motivation re-enactors have for leaving spectators smiling is that many of our re-enactments are supported by the state and if no spectators come, the state has no reason to continue support. I have been to re-enactments that have state support and many that didn’t. Re-enactments with state support are more affordable.
Ways that we re-enactors can counter this influence are:
- Bring extra hats and accoutrements to events and allow young people to wear or hold them while having their picture taken.
- Pose with spectators ---- If someone is taking your picture, ask them to join you or your group and have someone else take the picture with them in the picture.
- Answer questions
- Take a little time to meet them. This doesn’t have to be anything formal or time consuming. I like to walk down the line of spectators before an event starts. This gives them a chance to take pictures and ask questions.
- Listen as the spectators reveal they are the direct descendant of Pocahontas. Rather than contradict them, suggest they might like to read a biography (which will show she died childless).
- Make yourself available at schools and activities in your own community.
- Re-enactors can profoundly effect on young people. Let’s do it.
|
