[MR] Queen's Arms

[Arthur Donadio]

Atlantians:
This is my first post to the Merry Rose as I have only recently subscribed, 
and I will be stunned if this post actually reaches the list.  Having 
suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous discourse on various lists for 
three prior reigns, I consider it a sign of personal growth that I am 
writing you now.

This Queen's Arms thing is all my fault.  Years ago, a very young Stephan 
and Niobe camped with our Lodge at Pennsic when they reigned in the West.  
We became friends.  When Stephan was stationed here, he and Niobe visited us 
at Anton's for a private non-SCA welcome to Atlantia gathering.  At some 
point in our discussions that weekend, I pointed out to Niobe that a wicked 
mind could see canting (a very period practice) in the Queen's Arms.  No one 
told me about it, I just have that kind of dirty (but inventive)mind.  The 
allusion was mentioned once.  Time passed, and S & N won crown while still 
fairly new to the kingdom and our culture.  Ironically, it was Niobe, 
herself, who made the possibility of vulgarizing the arms widely known.  
Numerous past royals asked her not to change the arms.  The silliness that 
ensued engendered silly tongue in cheek campaigns to save the arms, but the 
Queen with some level of support changed the arms as was, in my opinion, her 
right to do.  But Niobe is not the only woman to sit the throne of Atlantia. 
  When Muirgen and Twyla gave me QOCs they wore the old arms, when Sionaid 
placed her hand on the sword that dubbed me, she wore the old arms.  And 
most of the past Queens I know favor a return to the scallop with ermine.

It is amazing to me that when you see folks proudly sporting period castings 
of "dicky birds" and other such badges in a hobby founded in Berkley in the 
60's and sometimes referred to as the Society for Consenting Adults, that 
such a furor has been created over the possible misinterpretation of a 
treasured symbol, by small minds.  A great many of us love and revere the 
first Queen we knew, Grafin Judith;  let us not imply that she wore some 
badge of shame and the joke was on her.  I think Bambi has demonstrated that 
no slight was intended when the arms were created, so to change every time 
some wit finds a way to take the low road with one of our awards or devices 
puts us in an untenable position.

In closing, let me implore you to read anything you intend to post twice 
before you hit the "send" button.  Unlike a letter in the mail, e-mail does 
not force us to take several steps before we hurt someone else's feelings.  
Being convinced you are right does not give you the right to be mean.  And 
please stop throwing around legal terms and referring to lawsuits;  most of 
you are mistaken and are detracting rather than adding to the force of your 
arguments.

Deeply sorry for bringing it up in the first place, I remain
In Service to Crown and Kingdom,
Cuan

PS  I was not the King who said the ugly bit at Curia, but I bet I know who 
did, and you can rest assured he did it to get just the reaction he wanted.  
Let us not make changes because somebody can enflame us so easily - king or 
not.
Cuan



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