Civil War re-enactment

[murielm99]

They are re-enacting a Civil War battle about a mile north of my house. Did they really shoot off cannons after 9:00 p.m. back then? War is such a noisy undertaking.

I had a very busy day. I had a meeting this morning with the Democrats in our district about defeating That Stupid Manzullo. This afternoon, we had an open house at our church, because our pastor is leaving us for a new congregation. I think I talked to half the town. Some quiet would be great.

I can tune out the Civil War noise, but my poor dog cannot. She is barking nervously. She is normally very calm. Storms do not frighten her.

The battlefield is set up right behind the veterinary clinic. They board pets there, and keep sick animals too. I cannot imagine what all those poor creatures are going through with the noise.

They will be doing this again tomorrow. If they decide to have a war here again, they should think about our furry and feathered friends.

[philosophie_en_rose]

1. What is the fun in re-enacting the civil war?

Are they hoping that events will turn out differently?

Poor animals.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. I don't get it either. I wonder if it pisses off the real civil war veterans

with its romanticism and antiseptic nature.

Maybe if they went out into the field without having driven there, but by carrying 70 pounds of shit and then got to watch their friends brains splatter into their shitty food while they're hip deep in mud and rain and can't shower for another 22 days and if they get injured they don't get to go to their modern hospitals but have to suffer with a bottle of rum and a rusty hacksaw, it would be a more valuable experience.

All I can think is that the guys who really fought that shitty, miserable, painful war are rolling in their graves.

[philosophie_en_rose]

4. I get it now. They're fighting the war here, so they don't have to fight it there.

I'm curious as to why these war experts are not contributing to arbusto's quagmire.

[datasuspect]

11. or maybe they can reenact sepsis, anaesthetic-free amputations, cholera, typhoid, and rampant

morphine addiction.

buncha fuckwits.

[murielm99]

3. My husband suggests that I

drive down there at 3:00 a.m. and blow my car horn for awhile.

But I don't want to scare the pretend soldiers' horses.

The founder of our community was killed in a Civil War battle. This year is our town's 150th anniversary. I think they are re-enacting the battle where our founder was killed.

I don't know who came up with this idea.

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. I hope it's over quickly.

:(

[Adsos Letter]

8. If it is a true re-enactment

then this war will go on much longer than anyone expects...

:D

[skygazer]

9. Actually the main purpose of re-enacting is teaching history

I used to know a guy who was a Revolutionary War re-enactor - lots of times the people participating DO march in full gear to wherever the re-enactment is and they do get an idea of what it was like. They live in a camp set up as authentically as they can and people visit and ask questions and they answer in character. It's a living history exercise and does provide some good education for people who can't be bothered to actually read a book.

People don't just play soldier - there are almost always women acting out the roles of laundresses, wives, hookers, disguised soldiers and nurses. People in support roles. Doctors. Slaves.

It's too bad they didn't scout their location better - they should have thought about neighbors and animals when they planned it. But I have nothing against re-enactors - I think it's a good teaching tool which is what its point is.

[philosophie_en_rose]

10. Actually, education is not always the primary purpose.

Re-enacting the civil war may be partially educational, but there is also strong element of nostalgia for the pre-war South.

Kind of like this --> http://urbanknowledge.blogspot.com/2007/06/racism-in-riverdale.html

[skygazer]

12. That's hardly a description of a civil war reenactment

While I'm fully aware that there are plenty of (mostly southern but not always) apologists for slavery and racism, ORGANISED reenactments (which your link had nothing to do with) are almost always put on by groups focused on social history.

That type of living history is seen in places like Colonial Williamsburg, Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts and other places that try to give visitors a sense of what life was like for the people of that era. That's not a bad thing, and just because there are some ignorant people in the world who twist everything for their own sick agenda doesn't mean the whole idea is bad.

[billyoc]

6. Are you *sure* it's a reenactment? n/t

[RedCappedBandit]

7. If they're so anxious to be in a war..

well, we all know where they should be

[murielm99]

13. They are shooting again.

I can hear rebel yells.

My dog is slinking around. The outside cats are trying to make themselves small.

I do understand using this as a teaching tool. But some participants throw themselves into it with such fanatical abandon that history is lost to playacting.

I hope the veterinary practice has something to say about any future locations.