[MR] A Rapier King?

[Robert Dawson, PA-C]

> >But inevitably this discussion leads some down the trail to
> >a big sign post that says "RAPIER KING THIS WAY ---->".

I don't think so...

Perhaps if the sign read "Rapier Crown List This Way ----->"

I don't think of His Majesty as a "Heavy King."  I think of him as "King of
Atlantia."  If a king is noble and good what difference does it make if he
is chosen by heavy combat, rapier combat, a checkers tournament, or even
drawing straws?  It's how he rules, not how he got there, that counts.  Or
is it?

Since we're a history oriented organization, let's look at a little history,
AS I and there abouts.  Why didn't we call the administrative heads of the
regions president and vice president, instead of King and Seneschal?
Because it wasn't medievaloid enough.  Why not vote on them?  Because it
wasn't medievaloid enough.  Why a tournament?  It was good schtick.  Period.
Why heavy and not rapier?  No one was fighting rapier at events then. (As an
aside, that's AFAIK. I didn't see any, anyway.  But my participation back
then was limited by youth, $, and driving distance, it could have been going
on.  But I don't recall running across fencing in the SCA until AS XIII or
so, when I was in the hinterlands of Meridies.)

Historically accurate processes for choosing Kings were a minor
consideration, if they were considered at all.  We had a tournament, we had
good schtick, we had fun.  What was to complain about?

But the SCA today is changed from then.  Immensely changed.  We have a lot
of gentles who would make fine Royalty who will never get the chance because
of the method we persist in using to select the Crown.  And that saddens me.
Are there plenty of  potential good Kings among the heavy fighters?  Of
course.  Are there plenty of potential good Kings among the rest of the
populace.  Of course.

So why not a different way of choosing the Crown?

The arguements "we've never done it that way," and "we've always done it
this way," have little inherent merit, and are counter-productive if they
stifle discussion of potential improvements.

The arguement that a Heavy tournament provides the best schtick is specious.
Schtick depends on a lot of factors, and the heavies don't have a monopoly
on it.

The arguement that only a "combat" tournament provides that adrenaline edge
is also specious.  Any competition where the stakes are high enough (and
Crown ought to be considered high enough for almost anyone :-) is tense and
exciting, from a spelling bee to a poker game.  Why not an A&S Pentathalon
to chose the King?

I ask again: If a king is noble and good what difference does it make if he
is chosen by heavy combat, rapier combat, a checkers tournament, or even
drawing straws?

Yes, this discussion crops up time and time again, I don't think of it as
beating a dead horse, but rather as chipping away at the status quo.  As the
SCA continues to age and grow, heavy fighters will become a smaller and
smaller percentage of the total populace.  Eventually, those who don't fight
heavy are going to become more and more vocal in their demands to have an
equal chance to wear the crown.  Let us continue to discuss it, honorably,
politely, without rancor, and in the spirit of making a better SCA.  And
with the understanding we can agree to disagree, and still be friends.

YIS,

Kenna McKenna