Principalities: "baby steps" Proposa

[Mike Baker]

>>>Would my friends and companions in the north consider
>>>the invitation to shape the experiment outlined into a more formal
>>>proposition?
>>GoB:  Why just north?  Do northerners feel so much less
>>attachment to the Kingdom?  And do you mean "north" as in
>>"Oklahoma", or as in "north of Waco", or what?
> I have a feeling that Amra was talking specifically to those with
> whom he shares a past history and long standing friendship (being
> from up-this-way originally?).

Precisely so. And thank you for getting the notion out while I was "away".

> It was my personal wish that the groups themselves had been
> left to petition these proposals on their own and according to their
> own timetables.  Principalities should be WANTED.  They must be
> born out of energy and enthusiasm in order to survive and grow.

Exactly. In making the "baby steps" proposal, at least in part I believe 
that I am suggesting a method whereby such energy and enthusiasm can be 
generated / amplified.

> I understand that this subject was brought up initially by a small
> groups of individuals from several different regions.  The fact
> that these REGIONS haven't brought it up says a great deal
> (to me at least) about their priorities right now.

As it should to all of us.

What it might mean may be entirely different in each region's case, however. 
Do the members of a particular region wish to avoid giving the appearance of 
being divisive? Do the leaders in another desire no greater burden than they 
already bear?

And thinking of burdens:

> Speaking from the Northern Region, at least half of our people are still
> recovering from many losses which caused MAJOR changes in several
> of our largest groups.  That half is still trying to adjust their lives 
and
> their games to a point where they feel comfortable, happy and safe
> again.  I know the Southern/Coastal region has had similar
> circumstances of late and many of them are may be focused more
> on that at present.  Terribly mundane, I know, but probably true.

Undoubtedly. The grieving process must be allowed to complete a cycle. In 
some ways, might it be possible that a "new" challenge could be taken up to 
provide a different thought-energy pattern? (I care greatly for my friends, 
but had not considered this additional possibility when thinking upon the 
principality proposals now before us.)

> (note:  To our Southern-most brothers and sisters, please know that
> the thoughts and prayers of those of us who have been through similar
> things - be they completely mundane or SCA - are with you.)

As well as those of us at some remove, but still affected. Central Region 
has had its own losses, SCA & mundane, as have many individuals within our 
bounds. "Never to forget" has a whole new meaning for _me_, now.

>>I expect any such group would prefer principality status.>
> I agree, especially an Ansteorran group. :-)

<gryn> Probably so, probably so. Sometimes we have to wrap our thoughts 
around things a little bit at a time, though.

> BTW, if we get enough $0.02 worth collected here, maybe we can turn
> it in to the kingdom to help finance the new deputy Chronicler's
> office.... (just a thought).

Only two cents? I thought we were up to at least a nickel by now!

Kat, thank you. Hug them what needs hugged, spit in the eye o' them what 
needs *that*. And occasionally remind Burke that he's human like the rest of 
us just for good measure (hey, it's a life-long process).

<extra-large gryn for Burke's sake>

Amr ibn Majid al-Bakri al-Amra
     currently residing in Barony of the Steppes, Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mike C. Baker                      mbaker at rapp.com
Any opinions expressed are obviously my own unless explicitly stated 
otherwise!