Though I am still on holiday and have not the time to write an extended article, I want to briefly share my notes about St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia.
This church was made famous by the convention that was held there in 1775. Patrick Henry made the notable speech including the line "Give me liberty or give me death". This was an early instance of American treason against the British crown. Every Sunday during the summer the speech is reenacted with a collection of 18th century statesmen. It is an interesting portrayal including an organ concert prior to the main event.
I enjoyed the ardently patriotic event despite its slightly peculiar cheesiness. My quick note however was regarding the patriotism regarding the separation from England. This event takes place in an Episcopal church which is the American Church of England. It follows the practices established by Henry VIII. This church still follows the Book of Common Prayer, derived from the monarchs of Britain but praise themselves for American separation. A British flag hangs next to an American flag over the door. If this reenactment was so much about the revolution and resulting separation from Britain, then why is the church still following this religion? Of course religion transcends time and national revolutions but it is somewhat ironic when you see these things combined.
Nice article somewhat a bit short!
ReplyDeleteWhy did you enjoyed in the reenactment? This kind of show seems to be quite common in the us rather than in Europe, any idea why?
Besides was it the ardently patriotic side that you enjoyed the more or the accuracy of the event and why would that be? Did it make you feel proud?
As for the relationship between the UK and the US, it was a Treason but was the flags always flying next to each other? And as you said that s religion only not anything else so it s much more spiritual and personal besides it could be asign of peace and reconciliation between the two countries. Culturally these two countries are not so far hence the term Anglo Saxon used to designate both the UK and the usa.
I liked the reenactment because I love passion for politics and liberty. I think there are many Frenchman who are of the same vein. Issues of freedom and liberty are what attracted me to political science in the first place. Seeing a passionate reenactment for the fight for liberty ignites my nerves. I am interested in why liberty is such a huge aspect in modern politics and whether it is worth dying for or fighting for. I think this is a worthy area of political theory study. As for why they are popular in the US...I have no idea. I would say they are more interactive approaches to history which we might like more than reading?
ReplyDeleteThe performance did not make me feel any more proud, no. I just thought the cheesiness was fun and sort of silly.
The flags I think do represent the link and peace between the UK and US. I find religion is probably a large bonding uni between the two nations and probably one thing that made separation more difficult.
~PB