From: mjc+@cs.cmu.edu (Monica Cellio)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Grand Pennsic
Date: 20 Aug 92 17:51:31 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon

I have erred in part on my comments on the "non-war" image of Pennsic 
that was spread by the royalty of the East and Middle.  While I have 
memories of Eastern courts (Coronation in April, in particular) in which
Ruslan and Margaret downplayed the "war" aspect, there is of course no
written record to check.  I looked through their letters in the last few
Pikestaffs and found counter-indications, such as:

  Arise ye peoples of the East, for the clouds of war are gathering in
  the West.  The forces of the Middle Kingdom have begun to make forays
  into Our lands.  Recently they were repulsed from Our Shire of Port
  Oasis by the combined forces of AEthelmearc and the East, which were led
  by Prince Ariel, Tanist Bear, and Our Royal Self.  Our archers, led by
  William of Barnsdale, David MacDougalls, and Joseph Archpecheur, in
  turn raided into their Principality of Ealdomere and handily won the day.

  We can @i(not), however, rest upon these victories.  It is imperative for us
  to be prepared and to keep our focus; otherwise, the lessons of Pennsic XX
  will be revisited.

				- Ruslan and Margaret, June Pikestaff

  The Knowne World has many Wars, but none that is so steeped in
  tradition and myth as the Pennsic War.  The magnitude of Pennsic creates
  an inertia of its own and draws our focus upon it.  There are few who
  are unable to recall the wide-eyed wonder of their first Pennsic.  It is
  extremely important to remember that feeling, and to revel in it,
  whether this is your second or your twenty-first Pennsic.

  To this end, We have joined with Our Royal Cousins, Ronin and Katya,
  King and Queen of the Middle, in fostering an atmosphere of friendship
  and cooperation between Our Kingdoms.  We encourage all of Our people
  to take the time to meet one another throughout the year, not just at
  Pennsic.  We especially encourage a true showing of hospitality to those
  gentles who travel from so far away to join with our Celebration at
  Pennsic.

  [...]

  The stage has been set, and it is now up to us all, the peoples of the
  East and the Middle, to focus our collective efforts.  For while Wars
  are fought and won with weapons, what stays with us always is the joy
  and satisfaction that come when we join with friends to accomplish
  something as grand and glorious as our annual meeting on the fields
  of Pennsic.

				- Ruslan and Margaret, August Pikestaff

These letters call Pennsic a war and the first is particularly focused on
the "war" theme with talk of winning and invasions and the like.  The second,
written two months later (in late June), still has some of these elements,
though it also refers to Pennsic as a "celebration".

Further, the September issue, thus far seen by only a handful of people,
contains more references to this as a war, though it also emphasizes 
friendship.  

It would appear that my memories of past courts and the on-site booklet
(which I was able to read parts of in June) have combined to make me see
more warning of this "Pennsic Fair" move than was really available to most
people.  I apologize.

I didn't go to opening ceremonies.  Is someone really calling this event
"Grand Pennsic" now?  That name rubs me the wrong way, somehow; it has no
more content than just "Pennsic".  If they want to replace the word "war"
with something, "fair" is probably the best description of what it really
is.  I think it's probably been years since I've uttered the phrase 
"Pennsic War", anyway.

Ellisif