American Pilgrims on the Camino

[Robert Ward]

Just like, whenever I meet somebody from Down Under, I start off by asking them, "Are you from New Zealand?"
>
> From: dandekay <dandekayaSBCGLOBAL.NET>
> Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 00:19:48 -0800
> To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
> Subject: Re: American Pilgrims on the Camino/Gatherings
>
> 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
> > >
>