A good observation about how historical re-enactors tend to err on the side of the grand rather than the humble.
Interesting because i once heard the author of that book "Confederates In The Attic" talk about how obsessive Civil War re-enactors are about making sure that they have PRECISELY the same accoutrements as the people that they are portraying. I believe that the author went so far as to say the if a re-enactor found that the soldiers had lice, they would be sure that they themselves were infested by the same species of lice that their Union/Confederate heroes suffered from.
Any of us who have been to a Highland Games that have been crashed by the Ren Fair types know how it goes…I especially like the band of "barbarians" that usually show up at our local Games and are covered in furs, leather, little bits of armor and more edged weapons than any person who actually lived in the (imaginary) period that they are "portraying" could have possibly owned…they add a kilt to this preposterous outfit and suddenly they are dressed for the Highland Games. I'd love to point out to them that if they were really be accurate, their faces would be covered with smallpox scars and they'd be missing at least a few fingers…maybe missing an arm or a leg…but they're living the fantasy.
I'm guessing, OC, that these Civil War buffs have done their research but have made the conscious choice to bend the rules and toss on a kilt and an anachronistic sporran just to try to create an effect. They'll give you the old "I'm honoring my heritage" excuse but they KNOW that they're really fudging the accuracy of what they're representing. Whatever their motivation we can't really say but if you're going to try to do an HISTORICAL re-enacment, you better damn well be as accurate as you can and leave your fantasies about "how it should have been" in the parking lot….you're not doing anybody any favors by misrepresenting history because it's your fancy to wear a kilt.
Best,
AA
ANOTHER KILTED LEBOWSKI AND...HEY, CAREFUL, MAN, THERE'S A BEVERAGE HERE!
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