Red Fridays spam RE: [SCA-AE] Fwd: [sca-pervect] Digest Number1523

[Rich G]

>By all means, let us keep politics and the like off this list so that we 
>may pursue other more important activities in this glorious organization.  
>I would say that the pursuit of awards, self aggrandizement, petty 
>bickering and the vast stupidities that are indulged in on a hourly basis 
>in the SCA are much more important than a simple act of acknowledging one 
>of uur fallen heroes in this, the most beautiful country on God's earth.

I promised myself I wasn't going to get in on this, especially since I'm on 
vacation, but...

(takes off deputy kingdom officers hat and puts on battered old BDU cap with 
the sergeant's stripes still on it)

Hi. I'm Calvert, mka Rich Goranson, former NCO in the US Army, disabled 
retiree, SCAdian and nine-year military veteran (1981-1990). Most of you 
know me or at least have heard bad things about me...probably from my wife.

While we appreciate the sentiment that many of you are feeling on days such 
as November 11th, many of us realize that it is indeed only sentiment. We 
veterans realize that when one says, "We support the troops" that saying it 
or buying a Chinese-made ribbon magnet for $1.50 at Wal-Mart usually is the 
full extent of their support. So, I challenge all of you...don't just say 
it, DO it. If you are still of age and physically able, volunteer to serve. 
If you cannot volunteer, help out servicemen's families by sending them 
food. Most younger servicemen's families live in abject poverty. Help them. 
Organize charity drives. Offer to sit in with the families while their 
servicemen are away and give them the psychological support that they need. 
Many wounded servicemen, particularly reservists and guardsmen called to 
active duty are living in third-world conditions on bases in the southern US 
waiting for medical treatment. Volunteer as medical aides to help them. 
There are a lot of things you can do. Go out and do them. Only then will 
your claims of support actually have meaning to those who serve and those of 
us like myself who have served in the past. Many of you say you support the 
troops. Prove that it is more than just a cliche. We have seen very little 
proof.

While we appreciate the thanks, we know that the thanks are not for our 
benefit but for yours. Our servicemen and veterans deserve better than 
thanks. They deserve action.


Rich Goranson (Lord Stephan Calvert deGrey)
Amherst, NY, USA (Barony of the Rhydderich Hael, Æthelmearc)
temporarily in Lafayette, IN, USA (Barony of Rivenstar, Midrealm)