Well, I’m trying to get away from that generalization of the term “reenactor.” As I mentioned, the public substitutes one term for the other. So you know, I’ve also been both – I’ve reenacted for several years as a Confederate private, and do living history as a Federal officer (tours and presentations on battlefields, speaking engagements at schools, etc).

I think it’s a generalization to say that any event is a “reenactment.” It’s just my opinion, but I see the battles as reenactments, and not simply everything else from history such as political rallies and such. I think all of this is why Eric correctly states that if you ask 100 people to define these terms, you’ll get 100 different definitions 🙂

I too have a long list of suggested improvements to the hobby. I was involved with a particular living history group, but left it (along with many others) due to disagreements with the way it was run. Now, I’m no longer part of a specific living history group, and instead do presentations on the Gettysburg battlefield at the request of the Park Service along with another Federal officer. At this point, I am one of only two living historians permitted to do so at Gettysburg (there are other reenactor and living history groups that camp and do particular presentations, but what we do is quite different). The only other groups who do what we do are Park Rangers and Licensed Battlefield Guides, and we have a special permit to conduct our events. I’m much happier now than I was when I was a member of that old group.

J.D. Petruzzi

J.D. Petruzzi