Why I Hate Fencing (fwd)

[Matthew R. Popalisky]

As Lyonel seems to feel folks will appreciate the irony involved...

I thought I was just being an annoying daughter of English teachers...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 01:28:46 -0600 (CST)
From: dennis grace <amazing at mail.utexas.edu>
To: "Matthew R. Popalisky" <mpopali at comp.uark.edu>
Subject: Re: Why I Hate Fencing

Greetings, Cousin Kateryn,

Lyonel here.

Dear lady, please, you MUST share this with the list. :^>
>
>On Sun, 17 Nov 1996, dennis grace wrote:
>
>> First, fencing has an appearance that readily lends itself to claims of
>> effeminacy.  Please, don't attack me for calling fencing effeminate; that's
>> not what I'm saying.  The art, however, uses lighter and
>> more-delicate-looking weapons than the heavy lumber SCA knights wield.
>> Moreover, fencers naturally tend to garb themselves appropriately for their
>> period: Italian fifteenth century slashes and puffs, English renaissance
>> slops and peasecods and frill collars, cavalier ribbons and lace and lawn.
>> Since--in the Twentieth Century--such frills are more commonly associated
>> with women's clothing, the garb offers additional justification to the claim
>> of effeminacy (Of course, I've always thought their was something immensely
>> funny about a bunch of guys in dresses calling cavalier garb effeminate
>> ;^>).  Finally, efficacy in fencing necessitates grace and fluidity of
>> movement, physical attributes not usually attributed to powerful masculine
>> warriors.  In the Aristotelian view (and, yes, I do believe Aristotle was
>> the original Bubba), if it ain't masculine, it's feminine.
>
>It's right up there with the biggest homophobe I know is a heavy fighter
>who likes to throw wraps to the butt.  Why is a homophobe wearing a skirt
>(that is what his armor looks like) hitting other men in the butt with a
>potent phallic symbol?? 

As my lady notes, "There are too many minds needing this nourishment."

Yours, 

Sir Lyonel (with Mst. Aquilanne looking on)