[MR] Authenticity (was pentograms)

[Vernon And Susan Willet]

To my friends of the SCA, and to the Fair Lydia, in particular, Greetings.

I see my post has touched a nerve and put the "cat among the pigeons", so to speak.  If I seemed dismissive, well, I was.  Nor do I apologize for that. We claim to be history oriented society but we embrace a large number of non-historical concepts.  We are so liberal with our interpretation of history that virtually anything goes.  Does anyone remember the "10 foot rule".  I think His Majesty has put an effective end to that over the course of his many reigns, at least on the field of combat.  Does anyone mourn for freon can helms?  Or carpet armour?  Or plastic elf ears?  These are just some of the things which make the legitimate reenactors ridcule the SCA. 
The preponderance of overt pagans is another.

If you choose to be a Modern Pagan, by all means, do what you will.  It is, after all, the Whole of the Law.  But why should you bring it into a group which already has issues with authenticity?  Shall I hold a Mass at an 
event?  I have seen numerous pagan rituals held at events.  Shall I put a crucifix on my arms?  Did I mean that there was no representation of a pentagram in all of the midlle ages?  Of course not; I am not an idiot, nor 
am I undeucated in history.  But it was, as far as I know, never used as a heraldic symbol.  And that is, correct me if I am wrong, the subject under discussion.

I rarely join in the discussions on the MerryRose because I am not an active participant, any longer, in the SCA.  But sometimes the need to respond overwhelms me and I cannot resist it.  If anyone is offended by my remarks, 
take solace in the fact that the probabilities of your meeting me at an event are very slim.  If just one of you stopps, thinks about what he/she is doing to the credibility of the SCA, and rethinks their position, then all of the flaming and (conversely) liberal head-shaking will be justified.  I have always espoused unpopular causes.  Ask Sir Corby.

Affectionately,
Baron Werhener von Ingolstadt
Former Baron, Caer Mear