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The wonderful world
Jan. 25th, 2002 01:31 am....of SCA politics. Politics coming from two root words, "Poly", meaning "many" and "tics", meaning "Blood-sucking parasites".
Several months ago, in the aftermath of September 11th, several people, swept up in the patriotic mania that dictated that the US flag be places on homes, cars, freeway overpasses, buses, trains, condoms, dog food boxes, and breakfast cereal, decided that the US flag should be flown at the Kingdom Crown Tournament. However, I saw two major problems with that.
1) The Kingdom of Caid extends into Brazil and New Zealand. It didn't seem proper to exclude them as well, and
2) To fly the flag of the US next to the banner of the Kingdom of Caid implies that the Kingdom has equal status to the US. Which is does not, one is a real country, and the other is a fictional kingdom made up to help administrate the local chapters of a historical recreation group.
3) It is very jarring to see such a symbol at an SCA event, and would trivilize what we were doing in light of the tragety of Sept. 11th.
As such, I felt that to fly the flag under those circumstances was running too great of a risk of paying dishonor to the flag of the United States. And as such, I suggested that maybe it would be better *not* to fly it. Surely a more period way to remember the victims of September 11th could be found, or mayhaps red, white, and blue ribbons could be worn with a sprig of rosemary, (for rememberance).
Well, you would have thought I suggested something like creating a 4th peerage, or serving babies at 12th night as part of the feast. One or two agreed with me. Several people who I respect, (like Jared, Oso, and Atar), recognized my concern in this matter, but respectfully disagreed with me on the subject. A few others agreed that the flag should be flown in a way to not create disrespect, but argued it wasn't inappropriate.
And then there were those who took what I said as a personal attack against this country, the kingdom, and themselves. The public comments were acid - the private ones were pure poison. And the public attacks were more than likely what caused "SCA Buddy" to come out from under their rock and attack me.
One of the more public comments was from a Laurel, someone who is supposed to be a peer of the realm due to her skill in the arts, and as such, show a grace and chivalry keeping with that status. The public comment she made was snotty at best. The private comment basically told me where to go and what to do with myself once I got there, and how dare I presume to ever show my face at an event ever again.
Flash forward to a few days ago, when I got the humor book from Sir Guillaume, who tends to be the "Dave Berry of the SCA". In it, he mentions his concerns and mixed feelings towards seeing the US flag at Crown Tourney. Many of his comments were simular to what I stated.
I haven't seen anyone say word one about it, or attack him like I was attacked.
Moral of this story - if one is a double-peer, (Knight and Pelican), a Court Baron, a former sitting Baron, and a Royal Peer, (Count, having sat on the throne once), one can say things and be ignored if people disagree with them.
However, if those same things are said by a nameless, unknown voice who isn't a peer, who doesn't have many awards or initials after their name, then the unknown is flamed to carbon by people and peers for having the gall to state something unpopular. After all, what use is this nameless unknown to the kingdom? Now a double-plus peer, that's important........
Can we say "double standard" boys and girls? Knew you could.
Several months ago, in the aftermath of September 11th, several people, swept up in the patriotic mania that dictated that the US flag be places on homes, cars, freeway overpasses, buses, trains, condoms, dog food boxes, and breakfast cereal, decided that the US flag should be flown at the Kingdom Crown Tournament. However, I saw two major problems with that.
1) The Kingdom of Caid extends into Brazil and New Zealand. It didn't seem proper to exclude them as well, and
2) To fly the flag of the US next to the banner of the Kingdom of Caid implies that the Kingdom has equal status to the US. Which is does not, one is a real country, and the other is a fictional kingdom made up to help administrate the local chapters of a historical recreation group.
3) It is very jarring to see such a symbol at an SCA event, and would trivilize what we were doing in light of the tragety of Sept. 11th.
As such, I felt that to fly the flag under those circumstances was running too great of a risk of paying dishonor to the flag of the United States. And as such, I suggested that maybe it would be better *not* to fly it. Surely a more period way to remember the victims of September 11th could be found, or mayhaps red, white, and blue ribbons could be worn with a sprig of rosemary, (for rememberance).
Well, you would have thought I suggested something like creating a 4th peerage, or serving babies at 12th night as part of the feast. One or two agreed with me. Several people who I respect, (like Jared, Oso, and Atar), recognized my concern in this matter, but respectfully disagreed with me on the subject. A few others agreed that the flag should be flown in a way to not create disrespect, but argued it wasn't inappropriate.
And then there were those who took what I said as a personal attack against this country, the kingdom, and themselves. The public comments were acid - the private ones were pure poison. And the public attacks were more than likely what caused "SCA Buddy" to come out from under their rock and attack me.
One of the more public comments was from a Laurel, someone who is supposed to be a peer of the realm due to her skill in the arts, and as such, show a grace and chivalry keeping with that status. The public comment she made was snotty at best. The private comment basically told me where to go and what to do with myself once I got there, and how dare I presume to ever show my face at an event ever again.
Flash forward to a few days ago, when I got the humor book from Sir Guillaume, who tends to be the "Dave Berry of the SCA". In it, he mentions his concerns and mixed feelings towards seeing the US flag at Crown Tourney. Many of his comments were simular to what I stated.
I haven't seen anyone say word one about it, or attack him like I was attacked.
Moral of this story - if one is a double-peer, (Knight and Pelican), a Court Baron, a former sitting Baron, and a Royal Peer, (Count, having sat on the throne once), one can say things and be ignored if people disagree with them.
However, if those same things are said by a nameless, unknown voice who isn't a peer, who doesn't have many awards or initials after their name, then the unknown is flamed to carbon by people and peers for having the gall to state something unpopular. After all, what use is this nameless unknown to the kingdom? Now a double-plus peer, that's important........
Can we say "double standard" boys and girls? Knew you could.
