[Artemisia] Cross as site token

Fri Nov 21 10:35:41 CST 2003

Among other thoughtful comments, His Majesty wrote:

<<On the other hand, (for
example) a very nice key chain used as a site token with the logo "GMC
Truck" would offend me to no end even though it is the furthest from having
a religious connotation and just about as inane as you can get.>>

Well, I would be offended too! But that's only because they didn't have the good taste to have 'Dodge Truck' keychains as site tolkens! *wicked grin*

OK, I know that was bad, but my only defense is that I have this email account for a reason! It's kind of like carrying around a sign that says 'beware of squire', which is of course, far better than the 'do not feed the squire' sign that I buried in the backyard a few years ago!

On a more serious note, Your Majesty brings some excellent points to the table. I partucularly enjoy the idea of considering the symbol in the frame of reference given. For those not bound by specific demands of their religion, simply taking the tolken in the context of the event could do alot to ease discomfort at being handed a 'cross' as a site tolken. 

For those who are bound by specific demands (such as the example previously given of some Jewish attendees of Pennsic who had to deface the symbol on the site tolken before being able to wear it) they do, in actuality, have the ability to make such defacements or modifications, or to keep their site tolken in their pouch as proof of payment. Some larger events do make a big fuss out of the need to have people prominently display their site tolken on their person. I think the solution of the Pennsic attendees is a clever, tactful solution to their problem they faced. 

Crosses in Arms, however, I feel is a far different subject. Personal arms are just that, personal. Walking into a site and seeing a far ranging variety of banners flying lend to the ambience of the event and provide a visual aid to the atmosphere we try and create when playing this game. When I attend an event with Earl John du Clare (or anyone else with cross/es in their arms) in attendence, I am not required to wear his arms. Should I ever find myself in the personal service or household of John, I would have a personal choice to make on that subject. One can not feel quite as compeled to wear the arms of a household than one can be of a site tolken. Of course, this as a very debatable view as well!. 

'Frame of reference' is still tickling the back of my brain, so I'll touch on it again. There are still a few things that would effect how one could perceive the enviorment they find themselves, in reference to the symbols around them. One would certianly look at being handed a cross to wear at a themed event (such as 'the Crusades', hey sounds like an idea for Quest in 2005) differently than showing up to a non-themed event say, Crown Tourney, and having the same thing happen. So too, might someone feel differently if they had the same thing happen at a small Shire event where no one looks to see if you are wearing your site tolken, compared to a larger inter-Kingdom event like Pennsic where one is expected to have their site tolken hanging around their neck at all times, even in the shower line. To illustrate this point, put yourself in the position of a Muslim man standing bare-chested in a shower line, having to wear a cross around his neck. Ummm... awkward!

Like I said earlier, I really am enjoying the discussion of ideas on this topic!

Isabeau

de Clare <declare at ida.net> wrote:

My personal arms have three crosses. I display banner whenever possible.
My shield bearing my arms accompanies me on or near every field I stand on
in armor... always displayed. I have been conducting these practices nearly
without fail since less than a year after I started playing. When I step
down, I shall do the same again.

My point: NEVER, not even once, has anyone even hinted that my arms
offended them. They are period. They look the part. Also, they are by far
the most commonly used devices in the mundane college of heraldry.

I would expect people in this particular game to be offended if the crosses
were displayed in a way that was not consistent with period. I would be
offended of some other symbol that might be against my personal religious
beliefs were displayed outside of a period context... but NOT because of the
symbol itself. I have worn symbols as site tokens that had pagan (for
example) and many other roots during my years in this game, but they all
were used in a period context and therefore didn't offend my sensibilities
even considering my beliefs are quite devout. 

<SNIP>

The bottom line is this: We are in a game that reenacts the middle ages.
We are also in a game that does not acknowledge ANY religion whatsoever even
though it was tied to nearly any and every act or thought conducted in
period. Therefore we need to separate the symbols from the meanings and ask
ourselves if what we are seeing is period... not religious. It seems that
Calontir has been able to do an admirable job of this.

My opinion. Thank you for reading it and giving what (if any) consideration
you feel it deserves.

Warmest regards to Artemisia,
John Fitzgerald de Clare

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