Comments on: ACLU defends medieval re-enactment dork

By: Glib Fortuna

Glib Fortuna — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:36:58 +0000

“And then, on Monday, we put on the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, took up our modern weapons, and carried on the tradition of beating the hell out of folksâ€¦”

Ooh-rah!

Sgt. B you HAVE put the whole thing in a little better perspective for me. Thanks. Actually sounds a little cooler than I had thought coming into this whole thing. But you have to admit, the kid we’re talking about is not in the class you describe. Czech out his photo and I think we’ll agree that we are both right.

By: Sgt. B.

Sgt. B. — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 08:05:31 +0000

You’ll forgive me, but wear 50 pounds of real armor, smacking each other with the equivalent of baseball bats, all to better understand the martial aspects of medival warfare, and medival life in general? Tell you what, buddy… Let’s armor up, and let’s see how well you take a few hits, eh? It’ll make you appreciate your M16A2 a little more… It will also help you understand what those fellers were going through in all those great battles contained in the books on the Commandant’s reading list (Like, oh, the Battle of Agincourt – that whole “Band of Brothers” thing – you know? The Battle of Hastings, Fallkirk, Stirling, that sort of stuff)…
As far as I remember, none of us were ever knights, or ever claimed to be, any more than all of those guys out there doing the WW2 Reenactments think that they’re Marines or Soldiers…
And then, on Monday, we put on the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, took up our modern weapons, and carried on the tradition of beating the hell out of folks…

By: A. Truman North

A. Truman North — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 03:48:32 +0000

This kid is harmless. But the fact that the ACLU would try to interfere with school policy (whether rightly or wrongly interpereted) bothers me. It’s still a case of ACLU-Knows-Best.

Best,
Truman

http://condig.blogspot.com

By: Jeff Molby

Jeff Molby — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 19:30:37 +0000

Jeff, are you going to wither up in a corner? Sorry if references to swirlies bring back bad memories. For someone trying to convince me that heâ€™s not being defensive, youâ€™re being pretty defensive.

Sure, Glib. You just keep right on pounding the table .

By: Glib Fortuna

Glib Fortuna — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:45:54 +0000

“I know it was an attempt at humor, but itâ€™s only funny to those with a predisposition towards bullying.”

Jeff, are you going to wither up in a corner? Sorry if references to swirlies bring back bad memories. For someone trying to convince me that he’s not being defensive, you’re being pretty defensive.

For my fellow Marines…

Listen brothers, no matter if you two are the coolest dudes in your counties or not, medieval re-enactment enthusiasts are not typically in the “Dudes Top 10 Things To Be.” I would say that combat arms Marines definitely are (I myself worked in the 4 shop before moving over to become a sliver-tongues devil as PAO, so you can POG fun at that all you want)…so why try to pad the resume with this of all things? In the hierarchy of coolness (of course I’m not claiming to be the sole arbiter of coolness here, but I’m sure most would agree), I would place fake knight somewhere above Trekkie but below model train collector.

Now there are exceptions — if you pretend to be an archer for Friday’s fake castle siege and you really go bow hunting for boar the rest of the weekend, you are certainly cool. But if you just make costumes for yourselves and try to live out a game of Dungeons and Dragons…not cool.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:23:15 +0000

I wonder if he’ll make his saving throw…

By: Jeff Molby

Jeff Molby — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 04:55:02 +0000

Donâ€™t get so defensvie Jeff.

There wasn’t anything defensive about my comment.

I was having a little fun.

I know it was an attempt at humor, but it’s only funny to those with a predisposition towards bullying.

Did my neddling hit a little too close to home buddy?

No.

This is exactly what I was going after. COMMON SENSE. Thanks John. Take notice Jeff.

The point is Jeff, that studentsâ€™ First Amendment, youâ€™re correct, arenâ€™t absolute and the school may create a reasonable set of EQUALLY-APPLIED restrictions. However, the rules need to be applied consistently across the board.

I discussed this already. Comment 5, paragraph 3. Comment 7.

A “common sense” policy would be nice, but those things are hard to write without leaving a lot open to interpretation. This district decided they don’t want to risk lawsuits, so they went with the nuclear option. That’s their prerogative. If it is demonstrated that they haven’t been applying it consistently, they should take steps to apply it consistently. Either way, unless they change the policy, they were right to ban the picture.

so how can you support â€œThe Manâ€ in this case?

I’m not, really. The district isn’t going to come out of this smelling like roses. I just don’t see how the kid gets anything out of this either.

By: Sgt. B.

Sgt. B. — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 04:13:18 +0000

As a one-time medival recreationist, why don’t you try duct-taping ME to a tree?

As I recall, there were 15 of us at Estrella War VIII, and most of us were either infantry or artillery…

By: Glib Fortuna

Glib Fortuna — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 23:44:35 +0000

“Heh. Well, back in the day, that â€œtoolâ€ would have had as a sword-wielding, shield-bearing Brother-in-Arms this All State football player and State Champion heavyweight wrestler and eventual combat arms soldier.

Come to think of it, that tool (in my time) went on to become a Purple Heart wearing, decorated for valor in combat Marine, too. And yeah, they do look a little similar.

Leave the duct at home unless you think youâ€™ve got the stonesâ€¦”

John — I’ve got to jump on this bud. Myself — 10 years on active duty in our beloved Marine Corps. Pretty prolific athletic background as well besides. Ran about a 290 PFT for most of my service (could never quite break through that 19:40 barrier on the run).

I’ve got to ask buddy…you refer to yourself as a “soldier”…and then a Marine…typo? (Not that I have anything against soldiers…it’s a Marine thing).

Sorry bro…just can’t shake the image of those fake sword fight guys I used to see in the park. Surely dorks.

John — were you one of those grumpy Gunnies who showed up at “Mandatory Fun” (unit picnics) with jeans shorts, braided belt, Devil Dog T-shirt tucked in, high tube socks and Go Fasters? If so, I’ll give you a big break brother. Many a Gunny and Top I’ve loved and respected fit the profile.

By: Glib Fortuna

Glib Fortuna — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 23:20:05 +0000

“Jeff – isnâ€™t the *real* issue about being able to exercise common-sense judgement without having to resort to lawyer-driven draconian â€œall or nothingâ€ answers?”

This is exactly what I was going after. COMMON SENSE. Thanks John. Take notice Jeff.

The point is Jeff, that students’ First Amendment, you’re correct, aren’t absolute and the school may create a reasonable set of EQUALLY-APPLIED restrictions. However, the rules need to be applied consistently across the board. Sounds like that didn’t happen here…so how can you support “The Man” in this case?