[MR] 4th Peerage

[Hrothgar]

Fair Mistress Genevieve,

I stand humble before your grace, beauty, and wisdom. It was, indeed, most joyous to see you and all my many friends at Ymir.

For the record, I have no disrespect for the rapier community. Heck, there's a few I'll even acknowledge in public. One of the grandest things I've ever witnessed was a fellow coming off the fencing field in tears. His physical problems kept him from fighting, but he wanted to get a feel for what it was like. That experience was wonderful for him. Anything that brings that kind of joy has my full support.

My issue is this same recurring complaint about adding a peerage to recognize fencers for fencing. Lately they've tried to add other pursuits so that it gets more people involved, but it still comes down to the same thing. If you want to persue a peerage, there are FOUR to aspire to. Folks shouldn't complain if they are unwilling or unable to achieve the level of commitment and achievement to get one.

As for myself, I have fought. I have fenced. I am now physically unable to fight, and that makes me sad. I would have loved to become a Knight. But I couldn't keep my opinions to myself long enough for it to happen. I would have liked to be a Laurel. But I was unwilling to put enough effort into learning the period forms of music and was content to just play my guitar and sing things that pleased me. I never wanted to be a Pelican. They're all insane. I'm waaaay too lazy to put forth that kind of amazing effort. I would have loved to make Crysarra Queen, but I wasn't that good. For all of that, any of those paths were as open to me as they are to everyone. I chose not to pursue them. And when someone chooses rapier instead of fighting, they have made the same choice.

Over the years, when this has come up, I hear the argument that the fencers do lots of service to the kingdom and should be recognized. Well, they are. With Dolphins and Pelicans. And Odin knows, they sure dress pretty. So give them A&S awards. The White Scarf was brought into being solely to recognize a pursuit that was not peerage level.. It's a fine and wonderful award, and is suitable for the art.

Hrothgar

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jen Thies 
  To: Hrothgar 
  Cc: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org 
  Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 12:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [MR] 4th Peerage


  It should be noted that our current Earl Marshal and his three most recent predecessors have fought both Rapier and Armoured Combat. Two have been Knights, Three have been White Scarves, with Sir Roland being both. From my off-field observations, both activities require strength, skill, and training to excel at. 

  That being said, I'm not a fan of a "Fourth" catch-all Peerage. 
  I'd also like to point out that there is already a 4th Peerage, our Royal Peers. 

  All that being said, bless your heart Hrothgar, don't ever change. :) It was good to see you at Ymir.

  Mistress Genevieve d'Aquitaine


  On Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 11:21 AM, Hrothgar <thorgrimm at windstream.net> wrote:


    >  Everyone should be able to aspire to a
    > Peerage someday if that's their wish; to impose limits on a group based
    > solely on their choice of fighting (heavy vs. rapier) in unfair.

    > Gina MacNeill
    > AKA Lady Rhiannon of Berra, CP


    This issue seems to come up every couple of years. I agree completely with
    Lady Rhiannon that everyone should aspire to a Peerage. It is truly the
    epitome of all that we do. However, the misplaced idea that new peerages
    should be created for each subgroup in the Society is ridiculous.

    If one wishes to become a Knight, then one can follow that path. The same
    holds true for Laurel and Pelican. If someone chooses to go in another
    direction, then that is their decision and they should be happy with that
    choice. They should not feel "cheated" that whatever their microcosm of
    interest is not recognized as a peerage worthy pursuit.

    Rapier was only allowed in the SCA as an peripheral activity to begin with.
    Atlantia buying into Ansteorra's White Scarf idea was just an end run around
    the BOD's decision on the matter. People choose rapier because it's easier
    than fighting. The learning curves are vastly different. To view them as
    equal on any level is just wrong. I have no real issue with fencing. If a
    person is unable physically, emotionally, or financially to participate as a
    fighter but want to get a small taste of what it's like to be on the field,
    then rapier is a fine and wonderful thing. But it shouldn't be considered a
    peerage level pursuit.

    Sitting astride a rocking horse brandishing a radio antenna about in a
    menacing manner does not equate to a Knight on a warhorse charging into
    battle.

    Ever Opinionated,
    Hrothgar


    ========================================================================
                      The Merry Rose Tavern at Cheapside
       List Info: http://merryrose.atlantia.sca.org/
     Submissions: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
    Subscriptions: http://seahorse.atlantia.sca.org/mailman/listinfo/atlantia