Kingdoms, THOSE other kingdoms!

[gurdymonkey]

Never get involved in a land war in Asia, never go up against a Sicilian where death is involved and do NOT expect someone from Jersey not to keep score.

This  was posted to someone's journal today. I have never found this "joke" amusing, especially as a transplant to this kingdom who successfully (I think) kept a personal oath not to be The Ugly Easterner when I first arrived.

So, I decided to time travel back to last spring and respond with THIS.

It's still true this year. It always will be. I am proud of my affiliations and friendships and achievements. There are currently 19 kingdoms in the SCA. I have attended events in eight of them (and taught in four of those), I have people I consider friends (live and electronic correspondent kind) in at least eleven.

Comments

[bovil.livejournal.com]

I still feel a bit of allegiance to the Middle, but it my mind it's always the big Middle, the undivided (well, relatively, we're talking post-Kingdom-of-Calontir) Middle, the Middle that still reigned over the shire in which I started.

19 Kingdoms? You're making me feel old. Naah, not really.

[sasha-khan.livejournal.com]

Considering that those 'Other Kingdoms' that apparently don't rate were calved from The West, I am finding that rather odd and mildly insulting - and I rarely take offense at this sort of foolishness, since it is beneath me.

You'd think the Mother Kingdom would be proud that Her children and grandchildren were doing so well for themselves, instead of viewing them as rivals. This is a rather sad and depressing insight into

some

aspects of Western culture that I am aware of.

As someone we know wrote "Thirty years independent, our traditions stand the test..."

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

...those 'Other Kingdoms' that apparently don't rate were calved from The West....

Well, not exactly (at least, not in the East and Midrealm's case)....

What, only mildly insulting?

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Just because I *could* get someone to translate "You're ugly, you smell bad and your mothers dress you funny" into Japanese, paint it on a banner and plant it in front of my pavilion doesn't mean I *should.*

This is on a piece of kingdom regalia - kingdom regalia that someone incredibly talented spent hundreds of hours on. This bothers me.

[duchessletitia.livejournal.com]

OK, let's look at what was meant when I made the bag. I was tired of the West Kingdom Provincialism. Even though I have never lived in another Kingdom I do not believe that the West always does things in the best way. This was a way to take a jab at Western silliness.

It was made at the same time as the kingdom ceremony book. We decided that if we put it on the bag, fewer people would see it. Theresa von Tux and I had a lot of fun knowing that the people it was aimed at would never understand the joke.

It may need to be taken down from the History web site. I am not someone who has a need to display my work.

It was never made to be part of Kingdom regalia. It is just the bag made to protect the Kingdom ceremony book.

I hope that putting it into context makes a little more sense.

[duchessletitia.livejournal.com]

Please pass this on to anyone you think needs to under stand the context of the project. Or you can send them to me and I will explain the context.

[duchessletitia.livejournal.com]

That is an idea. I will weigh pulling it with explaining it. Thanks

[emma7926.livejournal.com]

I would like to add my voice to the chorus for explaining it, rather than taking it down.

It sounds better in Latin...

[barone-antonio.livejournal.com]

Just like the phrase... "f*** 'em if they can't take a joke."

I vote for not taking it down off of the history site... just remind everyone that it is a joke... that should be sufficient.

[sasha-khan.livejournal.com]

Knowing the context gives a better perspective of intent - one I understand too well.