From: schuldy@progress.COM (Mark Schuldenfrei)
Subject: Re: Arrow number Two ...
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 17:20:24 GMT

I don't know who sent Ciaran a boobytrapped letter, but I
hope they earn what they deserve.

Ciaran, you don't quite get the point.  I'm not sure if it's
because you are overly emotional on the topic, or what.  I'm not
trying to be harsh, but here we go some more.

As you, yourself have noted, other groups than modern Pagan's
use the symbol of the pentacle.  And, as you acknowlege, there are
groups out there that reactly primitively and violently against
those who display pentacles.

The SCA Corporation is afraid of those nuts.  And, as a service
to our members, it tries to protect the membership from those
nuts.  It does so in the only way it can: it refuses to make
those symbols officially registered.

You may not find this comforting, but I do.  *I* don't care what
you practice, and what you worship, or who.  I just don't want
to pay the penalty for what you do.  "You" being anyone and
everyone.  I'm not Catholic, Jewish, Moslem, Baptist, Hindu,
Pagan, Wiccan, Satanist, Christian or anything.  The motivation
was protection of the membership.  It has nothing to do with
actions for or against any religion: They Want To Protect The
Membership.

You and I can quibble about whether they should or shouldn't.
*I* can certainly effectively argue whether they did a good or
bad job.  But, the motivation is protection of the vast majority
of the membership.

I, and the Board, can do nothing to make you more comfortable around
Christian and Moslem symbolism.  But, if bearing a pentacle would
help comfort you when you feel unjustly threatened, wear it.

Note, however, that
    That still doesn't make me feel any more comfortable about
  coming to an event where folks are standing around with 
  penants and shields bearing any number of symbols which are
  heavily identified with the crusaders who destroyed so much
  of my religion's heretage -- especially since I am forbidden
  to bear a symbol which proudly proclaims the advancing
  recovery of the folk traditions of ancient europe.

The Crusaders beat the snot out of a number of non-Christian
groups, but Pagan's weren't much among them.  I bow, however,
to folks like Hossein, who could give a more factual answer.

And, it is my opinion, which I usually keep to myself, that
promotion of your modern religion, while a good thing, is not
something that belongs at an SCA event.

    I'm also curious how your citizendry respond when someone
  wears as personal adornment a symbol which has been officially
  banned in heraldry.

I've never seen a negative reaction.  Some people will duck you,
other's will want to talk to you, the same as anything.

           The reasons for banning it were, in the humble opinion
  of myself and apparently others, inadequate considering the
  apparent bigotry in identifying the pentacle as a symbol of
  evil.

I'll say it again.  We're not afraid of the people who carry
pentacles.  We're afraid of the people who come hunting for the
people who carry pentacles.

    Just what are your means for seeking redress for actions
  of your executive committee?  Surely you must have some
  way to question the decisions of your executives?  With this
  much outcry, how did such an unpopular decision get approved?

Sure. Write to the Board, and ask them to re-consider.  Showing some
understanding of the reasons for the previous decision would be useful,
any new evidence of a change in the opinions of the populace.

You should probably write to the Ombudsman for Heraldry, and cc: the
Secretary.  They are:

  Dave Thewlis (Duke Siegfried vn Hoflichkeit) 180 D Park Lake Circle,
  Walnut Creek CA 94598 +1 510 256 0596 (Board Member, and ombudsman for
  Heraldry)

  Alyson L. Burnett (Mistress Alyson Throckmorton) P.O. Box 1754,
  Lawrence KS 66066 +1 913 843 3965 (Corporate Secretary)

Ciaran wrote:
    You don't just elect dictators for a year do you?

Nope, it's two years, and the old dictator's elect the new ones.  Don't
get me started: I think this is a bad idea....

	Tibor
--
Mark Schuldenfrei (schuldy@progress.com)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca