[MR] My thoughts...

[Carolyn Cox]

Greetings to the tavern.    

I first would like to thank Baron Jonathas and Baroness Clare for their well researched and thought out letter concerning the propoed change in regalia   It has been a benefit to us all.  Though it has not changed my opinion of the proposed changes, it certainly helped me to understand the intracacies in-volved.

I would like to speak to a differet but related issue.  That is the large and growing gulf between the kingdom, the royalty, and the reat of us.  This gulf is evidenced by the lack of interest in hosting kingdom events, frequent poor attendence at those events, and the constant pleas for retainers just to name a few obvious indications.  Those who hold the exalted positions seem completely at a loss to understand it, and repeatedly  act in a manner to increase the distance rather than heal it.      

The problem is the arrrogant disregard to the work and welfare of the baronies and the conviction that they can be disregarded, insulted and pushed aside without repercussion.  That just isn't true.  There is recourse and we're all living with it.  TRM are certainly not alone in this but have done more to increase this gulf that any other five monarchs.  This petty move to change the regalia to make the more exalted coronets more outstanding is just one more example.  The outward signs of respect you aren't getting is probably not about your coronet and if you change the law, you are sure to be disappointed by the result.  I am proud to be a baroness of the Court of Atlantia and proud to wear a modest but lovely (and expensive) coronet. Other than occasionly being called "your excellency", the way others relate to me has not changed al all.  I'm just fine with that  I feel that the royals and those who have been and/or  will be would do well to try to get closer to the populace and our conserns.

I have been perpetually amazed by the degree to which the SCA has suceeded in forming a feudal society that functions so similarly to the ones of old.  Let us learn from their experience and not forget what happened to those old kings and why.  Are we not headed in that direction?

If anyone needs me to be more specific about these issues, contact me privately and I would be happy to do so.

In service to our dream,
Baroness Averey Cockes (called the Far Seeing)