[Artemisia] the ongoing list discussion...

[Iohne MacDhaibhidh]

...And thank you for your very kind words.  Have we
met before?  Your name seems familiar as if I should
be able to place a face to the name, but alas that is
one of my greatest short comings!

-I

--- Trischia Wadey <aeschine at msn.com> wrote:
> _Very_ well put.  I had been searching for a way to
> say something along 
> these lines... but could not have done a better job.
>  Your thoughtfulness 
> and tact are much apreciated.
> Aeschine
> 
> 
> >
> >Unto the good gentles of the List,
> >
> >I have silently watched the posts of late to the
> Aerie
> >and struggled with myself. Part of me felt
> compelled
> >to respond, but my careful nature lead me to not
> want
> >to respond out of haste. After a bit of thought,
> this
> >then is my response. Allow me to apologize in
> advance
> >for it's length.  Also I apologize if you've
> recieved
> >this post twice as I've posted it to both the Yahoo
> >list and the gallowglass list.
> >
> >I have seen a number of postings of disgruntled
> >individuals and the responses of those
> diametrically
> >opposed to their points of view and a developing
> >polarization to either side of the issue. While I
> >would not presume to force my opinions upon others,
> I
> >thought that I would share a few of my conclusions
> >none the less, with the hope that perhaps some
> would
> >find some morsel of truth in my words.
> >
> >Firstly, allow me to admit that I too suffered a
> test
> >of faith when I moved to this kingdom. The exact
> >circumstances of that situation are irrelevant as
> that
> >now is water under the bridge.
> >
> >When I felt I had been wronged, my first knee-jerk
> >reaction was to point my finger accusingly about me
> in
> >wild gesticulations crying foul. That is after all
> >only human nature and no one could be faulted for
> >reacting according to instinct, at least at first.
> >
> >After further thought however I came to what I
> thought
> >was one undeniable truth. You can not demand that
> >someone else be more chivalrous. It simply does not
> >work. The end effect of that action is an
> escalating
> >downward spiral where accusatory fingers are
> pointed
> >and harsh words are cast in all directions and no
> one
> >receives the recompense that they desire.
> >
> >After coming to this epiphany I was left asking
> myself
> >"Now what am I supposed to do?" How are those who
> feel
> >wronged by what they perceive as a lack of chivalry
> on
> >the part of others to seek redress? (This is where
> I
> >feel my thoughts are analogous to the current
> >situation occurring on the Aerie, as both camps
> around
> >the issue clearly feel wronged.)
> >
> >It was then that an oft repeated mantra of
> self-help
> >books and other such sources came to mind. "The
> only
> >person you can change is yourself". The truth of
> this
> >statement seemed to ring true. If I wanted to see
> more
> >chivalry, then clearly where I needed to start was
> >with myself. Chivalry it seems, is best propagated
> by
> >being chivalrous. It is a lesson that can only be
> >taught by example.
> >
> >So I figured, what do I have to loose? Starting
> about
> >two years ago, I took this new realization out for
> a
> >test drive. At first I didn't even notice it, but
> as I
> >concentrated on improving my personal chivalry and
> >honor, others began to treat me differently and
> slowly
> >my enjoyment of this game we play began to return
> and
> >be enhanced. Now, I can say unabashedly, that I am
> >having the best time I've ever had in the SCA.
> >
> >I have a few other points that I would like to add
> as
> >I feel they may be pertinent.
> >
> >People often have varying points of view. If you
> ask
> >two witnesses of an accident what they saw, their
> >stories will wildly differ every single time. The
> >truth of what happened usually lies somewhere in
> >between. Try to understand each other's points of
> >view. Clearly something occurred and the honest
> >appraisal of the situation would have to lead one
> to
> >the conclusion that the truth lies somewhere in the
> >middle; by application of Occam's Razor.
> >
> >I believe that anyone who is drawn to the SCA winds
> up
> >here because deep in their hearts they harbour a
> >desire to emulate the virtues that we describe as
> >chivalry and honor. One of the tenets of chivalry
> is
> >largesse (generosity). When interacting with others
> I
> >try always to be generous in my estimation of the
> >other person and apply the assertion that I put
> >forward in the beginning of this paragraph. I don't
> >know very many people who make a reasoned choice to
> do
> >things that they know are wrong, as people are
> mostly
> >compelled by a desire to do what they believe is
> right
> >according to their point of view of the situation.
> >When viewed in that light, other people's actions
> are
> >easier to understand and it becomes much harder to
> >assign nefarious intent.
> >
> >Anyone who claims they are perfectly chivalrous is
> >deluding themselves. Chivalry is not a destination.
> >Neither is it a label that one wears on their
> lapel.
> >It is a long standing desire and struggle to combat
> >one's baser instincts. We are all just fallible
> human
> >beings aspiring to a higher ideal. That does not
> mean
> >that we are perfect. That means that we are trying
> to
> >become closer to perfect. We will screw up along
> our
> >journey that fact is a given. The truly chivalrous
> >will generously admit their faults and seek to
> redress
> >the wrongs their fallibility has brought about.
> >
> >I remain as always in service to the ideal,
> >
> >Lord Iohne MacDhaibhidh
> >Founder of la Maison du Sainte Elize
> >Diligent and proud member of the SCA and the
> Kingdom
> >of Artemisia
> >
> 
>
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=====
Si hoc legere scis numium eruditionis habes.
Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate.
Terream non malas.

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