American Pilgrims on the Camino/Gatherings

[dandekay]

The discussion of "American" -or should it be- "North American" etc., puts
me in mind of an amusing experience on the Camino this past fall....
I had mentioned to a fellow pilgrim from Canada that I was often asked, "are
you Canadian?" (I'm from Northern California).
"Oh", she replied, "that's because they think you might actually be Canadian
and don't want to offend you by asking, "Are you an American!".

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Ward" <robertwardaGOSYMPATICO.CA>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 9:54 AM
Subject: Re: American Pilgrims on the Camino/Gatherings


> 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
> >