[MR] A Rapier King?

[MR W]

OK, One thing everyone in the Rapier community about Crown is missing. Fighting for Crown is a personel goal a individual strives for. The individual tries to get himself good enough to overcome whatever opponant they come across and try to beat them. The individual with the most drive gets out there and practices long hours to achieve that goal. This is why you see a lot of the same faces in Crown each time, this is the same core group trying to achieve that dream.

If Crown became a rapier event, you would see these same faces. HRH Logan, their graces Cuan, Michael, Anton, all of the Knights that are training to win crown would become the best goddamn Fencers in Atlantia. As would I for that matter. Just because you have a Rapier Crown does not mean that these people (Including myself) are going to go away.  

Hell, if you desided to have a Crown Tourney based on Tiddly Winks, all these same people would be out there doing thumb training.  

What I am trying to get to is that the same people winning Crown in Heavy would be winning Crown in Rapier if it ever came about. These are the people that have the drive and the will to dedicate themselves to that goal.

Fencing is Fencing, it came about well after the SCA started. SCA fighting is based on the Battle of Hastings. There were no Fencers at the Battle of Hastings. Fencing was allowed in as a alternate to Heavy for a lot of reasons I do not want to go into right now as there are many differant versions. However the basis of SCA fighting was meant by our founders back in the 60's was open faced helm and coat of chain links. No mater what you see us wear, that is what our Heavy combat is based on. Crown will always be based on that.

If you feel their is a lack of respect to your art, stop comparing it to Heavy. It is apples and oranges. Fencing has to stand on it's own. Earn your respect by practicing you art to the fullest, and come together with the Heavies, Archers, and now the Siege Engineers in defence of our Realm. That will earn you more respect from the heavy fighters then anything else. All the e mail sniping at each other is just going to spread hate and discontent
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Dawson, PA-C
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 2:55 PM
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [MR] A Rapier King?

> >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


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