[MR] Crown Tourney/Why should Atlantia Care...

[Velsthe1 at aol.com]

If we shall recall, this thread began with a request for those in the tavern to suspend their common practice of  isolationism to discuss how the change to Corpora would affect this kingdom. It has come full circle.

We can be certain that a War Crown would not be appreciated in this Kingdom but it could be in others. 
After some going round on the merits and flaws of the proposal, we are at somewhat of an impasse. There are those that will not waiver in their support one way or the other. That is not that one party is saying we must all have singles tourneys with double-elim and the other camp to say that we must embrace this new method. It has become a matter of whether the isolationist thinking is maintained here. 

Finally, it has been suggested that the reason we must all stamp out this War Crown Proposal is that someday it could, possibly, arrive on these shores and infect the game as it is played here. Alternately, when one would go to a foreign land, they wish to see that a Crown done the exact same way in one place as it is in every other (in reference to Lady Alesia's post, if I understand correctly).

What then makes the Atlantian idea of what is proper right compared to what may be proper elsewhere? I fear to say that it is Egocentrism. 

This is found in every kingdom to which one may travel, and in each to varying degrees. In Atlantia it is very strong. It is a pride, and esprit de corps, if you will. But that does not make what people here think should be done any more important or more right than how it is done elsewhere.

Since I have arrived in Atlantia, I have many times heard  “we do things _this_ way in Atlantia, what you did elsewhere, and how you did it, do not matter here”; that dreaded Atlantian Isolationism in effect. 

I have come to this land and since ceased to make any suggestions as to what I have seen or heard or done elsewhere, for it will not be recieved. When in Rome, yes?   So by what arrogance is it that grants Atlantia absolute juris to expect other kingdoms to do what is thought right here when moving on abroad. 

So what if someone moves into this Kingdom, and after a time wins Crown, and deems the next tourney will be of this war crown format, despite the consent of the people. The turnout is low and essentially a failure as events go. Will anyone ever again dare to try it? Probably not. So what is there to lose if it does someday come to this shore? 
No one is attempting to force anyone here to change their game. To the best of my knowledge this War Crown is merely a proposal, and I do not know if it has ever even been tried, if it has, I’d like to hear about how it went. What the BoD is asking is not whether a war crown is a good idea or a bad one, and would it be adopted society wide. What they request of us is do we think kingdoms should have a right to chose their own destiny as Corpora is currently written or should this be changed so that everyone uses the exact same method everytime.

There was a time when Fencing in the SCA was forbidden, for it was combat with live steel weapons (among other arguements). Fencing was not part of our game. There was a time when Archery, combat and target, were not part of our game. In these cases thought who felt strongly petitioned the BoD to allow these activities and won. And the introduction of these new ideas has expanded our game to a new evolution. Here we have a situation that is directly the opposite: an idea that is currently allowable by Corpora, that if left to grow could as well add to our game as detract. But we may never know, for this possibility may be snuffed out before it ever has a chance to take root (which is what opponents would prefer I suspect). Still, if there was so little harm if monitored properly for Fencing and Combat Archery, then why should not the same leeway be granted for this. Personally, I would like to see this War Crown Tourney tried at least once before it is outlawed entirely before it has the opportunity to be explored, more-so than in theory as has been done to date.
It is not my intent to come across as inflamatory, merely somewhat provocative. Though I expect to be accused regardless. It is solely my attempt with such rhetoric to evoke a well though out response in view of some of the deepest rooted positions at the core of this matter. That is not to say I expect change on these positions, but I would hope that some would at least think on these things.


Vels
Companion of the Popular Company of Sojourners
(which means what in Atlantia?)