10-21-2003, 03:52 PM
Robert, here's what I know about the politics of Xaanten 03. I had originally volunteered, free of charge to Xaanten and RAT, all of my/LEG XIIII Roman resources to include canvas shop/information tent, 3 Roman leather tents, catapult, cataphract armor/horse, loads of camp equippage and furniture, and up to 50 complete Roman impressions from republican to 5th century AD. All of my troops were in Iraq anyway so thought this would be a great way to get non reenactor RAT people involved. All seemed to be going fine until I got a call from Jenny saying that the Xanten organizers would not allow me to participate. I found this quite shocking because it was largely my group and Junkelmann that got this event going in the first place. There was nobody else but us back then. I originally thought this was just the typical German, anti-foreigner hatred anyone living in Germany knows and expects, but I later found out that the leader of a quite local, and prominent group didn't like being upstaged by our American group at past events (which can field over 40 men to his usual 15, despite all his money), and had used his influence with the organizers to keep our group/me out of the event. This same individual tried to do the same thing at another event, and for this and other reasons has been kicked out. I was told this by the organizer himself.<br>
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Anyway, we should have the same RAT roundup at Trier in 2004. I will make everything available as offered before. Lets have RAT this time on a real Roman archaeological site (the Imperial baths of Trier), instead of a mickey mouse, fake, cinderblock Roman amusement park run by n_____, ahem, I mean, uninhibited Germans. Unfortunately, the same back-stabbing petty politics that has infected the Roman hobby in Britain has migrated here. At least the instigator won't be at Trier. What ingratitude, they would probably still be prancing around at Fasching parades/carnivals in their Hollywood Roman costumes, with more tribunes than legionaries, if I had not helped them get authentic, and this is the thanks I get. Now I know how Varus felt.<br>
Dan<br>
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Anyway, we should have the same RAT roundup at Trier in 2004. I will make everything available as offered before. Lets have RAT this time on a real Roman archaeological site (the Imperial baths of Trier), instead of a mickey mouse, fake, cinderblock Roman amusement park run by n_____, ahem, I mean, uninhibited Germans. Unfortunately, the same back-stabbing petty politics that has infected the Roman hobby in Britain has migrated here. At least the instigator won't be at Trier. What ingratitude, they would probably still be prancing around at Fasching parades/carnivals in their Hollywood Roman costumes, with more tribunes than legionaries, if I had not helped them get authentic, and this is the thanks I get. Now I know how Varus felt.<br>
Dan<br>
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