[MR] A Small Request for Prospective Crowns

[Dukeolaf at aol.com]

Good evening to fair Atlantia and may God bless us 
 
I offer my comments on this subject mainly because His Majesty asked former  
Crowns to do so. I offer these, not as fact, but as my opinions. I do not take 
 issue with anyone or any particulars with the opinions of others and render 
my  comments strictly in the spirit of debate. I honor all who have commented 
and  cherish and defend their right to view this issue as they will. I ask 
only  this,  to whom my words shall reach. Should you find disagreement with my  
position please be as respectful ( in your flames) to my opinions as I am to  
yours.
 
 
Is it just me or do I  sense there is a perception that our Crowns (present 
and/or past) have acted in  some capricious, cavalier, maverick manner? I 
cannot put words in the mouths of  other Monarchs but I can say that this notion is 
overall false. I, the present  Crowns, and others have served this Kingdom 
and her citizens well and truly from  the heart. We have gone to great extents 
(time, travel, expense, and general  dedication) to insure that our Kingdom is 
strong. I have seen no “rampant desire in recent years to abandon  
longstanding traditions that go back to the days when Atlantia was very young  and even 
to the days when Atlantia was part of the East in order to copy,  sometimes 
slavishly, innovations from the newer
kingdoms which themselves  originated in many cases in rebellion against the
traditions of parent  kingdoms.”. In fact I believe we have held to 
traditions and customs very  well and have not abandoned anything. Let me quote 
something that I said once  and I have heard echoed many times in recent years, (and 
this pertains  specifically to AoAs but can apply to anything) “Make that two 
minutes of your  time the most important two minutes of your life”. That says 
a lot. If The  Crowns want to make an AoA that important what makes anyone 
think that our  Kingdom level awards and orders are any less important. In fact 
the Crowns go to  great lengths to make every award special. Again let me 
quote, “We are  minded to make you a ____________, is this your desire?” The 
candidate is then  put on vigil. I have not seen any candidate made recently 
without that vigil  (except the knighting at Pennsic, and he has stated that his 
knighting was  perfect to him) so someone or somebodies must know in advance 
because I have  seen lavish vigil sites and that does not happen impromptu. Also 
during this  vigil the candidate has an opportunity to speak to any peer who 
wishes to speak  to him/her and always the Crowns visit the vigil. Should the 
candidate or their  representative make known the request to wait until another 
time, I would not  deny that nor do I believe any Crowns would. When friends ( 
and I presume that  one’s Peer is their friend) are notified, the candidate 
is asked, the vigil  takes place and no voice is heard in deference to another 
setting or event them  the Crowns can only assume this is what they ( 
collectively) want and thus proceeds  with the elevation using whatever ceremony is 
selected. I, as King, never  mandated any set ceremony. I used my preferred 
texts and particulars but was  always open to the special desires of the candidate 
(if I knew those desires),  or the friends or family of the candidate. 
Personally I believe the one’s Peer  should have these answers already when they are 
notified of the eminent  elevation and should make them known. If they do not 
know they should get on the  ball. If a person does not have a specific Peer 
whom they serve, there are  certainly close friends that know their desires. I 
know there are many people  that are close to candidates and the specifics or 
special desires and in most  cases ceremonies should be their responsibility. 
I, as I said, had ceremonies I  liked but none were set in stone and believe 
it or not the “special day” for our  Peerage candidates IS a priority. The 
elevation of a Peer is just as much a  thrill to the Crowns as it is to 
candidate and friends. Any former Crown will  tell you the excitement They felt at 
those elevations. It is “special” and  the Crowns put forth every effort to make 
that day wonderful so the implications  that Crowns operate in some rogue 
uncaring fashion is  insulting. 
Personally, I think a  candidates Peer, spouse, or closest friends SHOULD be 
notified. I also believe  that the Order members should be notified, but doing 
so has proven to be almost  public notification. I have no problem with 
notifying the candidate (in fact  that IS done; refer back to “We are minded…….). 
I believe a wise Monarch will  seek the proper counsel, make the best decision 
possible, proceed on the advice  of those closest to the candidate, and make 
that ceremony memorable to him/her  not US as orders or citizens. Our 
responsibility is to give our advice when  asked, follow the lead of our Crowns when 
they do make Their decisions and  SUPPORT THEM. If we can ever presume our 
Crowns love our Kingdom and its  citizens then we can give them the benefit of any 
doubt and support Their  efforts to rule as They see fit. If They make a 
mistake we   (as Peer) have the right to be  heard but we should not critic Them 
publicly. 
Sincerely and  always in service to Atlantia,
 
Duke Olaf Askoldssonn, KSCA, OP
Officium per fides quod  veneratio (Duty through faith and Honor)

May God Bless Us  All