1 / 14

Protests and Tribulations

This narrative explores the founding of the Reformed Druids of North America (RDNA) at Carleton College in 1963, sparked by a religious requirement. The author shares personal experiences as a member since 1964, transitioning from mathematics studies at Purdue University to leading Reformed Druid services during the Vietnam War draft. Highlighting the Samhain celebration, the account recounts a memorable ceremony involving magic and community bonding beside the Wabash River, illustrating the intersection of faith, culture, and protest in a turbulent era.

orenda
Télécharger la présentation

Protests and Tribulations

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Protests and Tribulations Draft, Tuition, and … Druids?

  2. Reformed Druids of North America • Founded Spring of 1963, at Carleton College, in response to their religious requirement • If you can tell whether I’m serious, I’m not living up to the RDNA culture • A friend of mine at Carleton was one of the founders of the RDNA, and kept bugging me to join. • I joined in 1964.

  3. Reformed Druids at Purdue • I arrived at Purdue in January, 1967, to work on an MS in Mathematics. • At first, I spent all my time on math. • By 1968, I was not only hanging out in the CS department, but spending more time outside, including concerts at Slayter Center. • That fall, I started holding Reformed Druid services.

  4. Vietnam-era Draft • Young men (ages 18 – 25) were drafted and sent into war. • The main escape was deferment: being in college, or being in graduate school or an occupation in a scientific or technological area. • Hey! That’s us! • The escape clause was gradually tightened.

  5. Lesser-known Draft Exemptions • In addition to deferments, there were exemptions. • One of the grounds for exemption was being a minister (or equivalent, in other sects).

  6. Samhain • In the RDNA version of Celtic history, one of the main holidays is “Samhain”, the ancestor of Halloween. • This seemed to be a good time to really publicize the Druids at Purdue.

  7. Samhain Celebration at Purdue • On the evening of October 31 (Halloween), the 10-15 congregants met in the wind tunnel, then trooped down the stairs to the hall outside the Machine Room. • We all stood looking toward the little-known, little-used graphics console.

  8. Graphics console

  9. Druid symbol • After suitable incantations, I drew the Druid symbol in the air, while facing the graphics console:

  10. Magic! • My accomplice, watching my reflection in the nearby controller’s cabinet face, started the console’s drawing program by pressing the button on the controller.

  11. Graphics console with sign

  12. Post-magic • There was a satisfying gasp from the crowd. • We then trooped back up the stairs, and drove to the banks of the Wabash, where we had a religious-themed ceremony and bonfire.

  13. Bonfire at the Wabash

  14. Bonfire at the Wabash

More Related