American Pilgrims on the Camino/Gatherings

[Robert Ward]

Ah, but note that the Little Company of Friends has a maple leaf on its logo!

I assume you are being facetious (irony being our national forte), but just in case you aren't I'll point out that the "American Pilgrims on the Camino" is, as its name suggests, a group of Americans who decided it would be fun to have a big annual get-together of Camino lovers. It probably never occurred to them that anyone from outside the States would want to join (and indeed, at last year's gathering, I was the only Canadian, and non-US citizen, in the crowd of 80 or so.) My guess is, though, that if droves of Canadians and Mexicans suddenly started applying for membership, the first thing these good people would do would be to add "North" before "American." Until that happens, it's a little presumptuous to ask them to change their name -- like telling the Camino Association of Burgos that I might join them, but only if they drop the "Burgos."

I think the best indicator of the inclusivity of the American Pilgrims is their intention to hold their 2005 gathering in Toronto, an idea that derives largely from a desire to hook up with Canadian "Caministas" and existing groups in Toronto, London, Ont., Quebec and (are there more Canadian groups out there! BC? Alberta? Ottawa? Nova Scotia? Raise your hands!)

So let your hackles down and quit dissin' the APC! (Or was that the NAPC?) We're all on the same Camino, and we can all be proud of where we come from.
>
> From: Karen Mallory <mallkaMTS.NET>
> Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 09:14:33 -0600
> To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
> Subject: Re: American Pilgrims on the Camino/Gatherings
>
> Ah, but note it doesn't say Little "Canadian" Company of Friends thereby
> including whomever wishes to belong.
>
> K
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert Ward" <robertwardaGOSYMPATICO.CA>
> To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 11:36 PM
> Subject: Re: American Pilgrims on the Camino/Gatherings
>
>
> > Dear Karen. There's no need for the American pilgrims to "broaden their
> name" to include Canadians, when a Canadian group (with
> pilgrim-credential-granting rights) already exists; namely, "The Little
> Company of Friends." Drop by www.santiago.ca sometime and say hi.
> > >
> > > From: Karen Mallory <mallkaMTS.NET>
> > > Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 20:06:36 -0600
> > > To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
> > > Subject: Re: American Pilgrims on the Camino/Gatherings
> > >
> > > Perhaps the group should consider broadening their name to North
> American
> > > Pilgrims to include the Canadians who do not consider themselves
> Americans
>