From: donal@brewich.hou.tx.us (Donal)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: consort gender
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 92 19:11:56 CDT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com (Ailsa N.T. Murphy) writes:

> zebee@ucs.adelaide.edu.au (Zebee Johnstone) writes:
> 
> > Arval wrote:
> >
> > >The requirement for a mixed sex ruling couple is simply a reflection of ou
> > >focus on the ideals of courtly love: An chivalrous warrior fights for the
> > >glory of his lady/her lord.  One's lady or lord is one's inspiration;
> > >sleeping arrangements have nothing whatsoever to do with the matter and ar
> > >nobody's business but your own.  It is a social convention, based on the
> > >social conventions of the period we re-create.
> >
> > I always wondered what to do about the "inspiration" problem.  I'm not
> > in a "relationship" same sx or otherwise, so if I wanted to compete
> > in Coronet, what do I do to avoid doing violence to this concept - a concep
> > I enjoy *because* it is so high medieval?
> >
> >
> > I don't want to just wander up to someone and say "Hey, can I fight
> > for you in Coronet".  If I win the damn thing I want to be able to
> > crown the person who *inspired* me to win, the person I really
> > *wanted* to put on the throne.
> >
> 
> precisely.  this statement of purpose is in truth much more wounding than pur
> fear and disgust.  lord and ladies, this peasant knows that there are some wh
> find my attatchment to my lady odd and unnatural.  but to imply that i could
> derive more inspiration from ANY man, to include Yng my father, than my lady
> whose hands weave the strands of fate, whose eyes hold worlds ripe for
> discovery!  that is a blasphemy, to borrow a term from the romans.  no man
> inspires me.  to say that i must pretend because you, who are the powers that
> be, say i must is one thing.  i am but a poor peasant woman.  if the law of t
> land is unjust, it is still the law and i must follow it.  but to expect that
> exp[erience this feeling, or to even imply that my love inspires me less than
> consort chosen for concvenience sake, is insulting.  my lady is my sun, my
> moon, my earth, my sea.  SHE inspires me to become as great as i may be, and 
> win the look of pride in her eyes i would take on worlds.
> 
> but my lady takes no joy in warfare.  and in truth passes of arms disgust her
> so in whose honor and by whose inspiration i fight is moot.  by the inspirati
> of my lady, i REFRAIN from fighting.
> 
>                                         -Walburga Ingsdottir
> 
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>                     ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com
>  I wish her insight to battle love's blindness            ________
>  Strength from the milk of human kindness         Silence \      / Action
>  A safe place for all the pieces that scattered      =     \    /    =
>  Learn to pretend there's more than love           Death    \  /    Life
>                                   that matters               \/

Ailsa! I had no idea you were SCA! :D

And right on! I agree with you a hundred percent on the King thing.
I think our Society places too much emphasis on the fighting 'arts' 
anyway, but coming from a non-fighter my opinion does not carry much 
weight.

You know it is amazing. I UNjoined rec.org.sca 4 or 5 months ago, and 
just stepped in here on a lark, and they are having the same argument 
they were having when I left!

Blessed Be!


--------------------
Donal, SysAdmin of The Brewer's Witch BBS -- +1 713 272 7350
(Internet) donal@brewich.hou.tx.us  (Work) bill%pssi@lobster.hou.tx.us
(CIS) 76460,1443 
(SCA) Ld. Donal Dubh, IC of Dun Bruddair, B of the Stargate, K of Ansteorra