Principality noise

[dennis grace]

You guys are silly.

Having lived through the "trauma" of experiencing a region birth itself into
a principality, I have to say that many of you guys really are totally
over-reacting.  We lived in both the region of Artemisia, and then the
Principality of Artemisia, in Atenveldt.  

First, I'd like to point out (as a few folk have done before me) that the
birth of a principality does not automatically assure the eventual maturing
to a kingdom.  I believe Artemisia has been a Principality now for about
eight years.  In that eight years, population stability has long been that
required to support a kingdom, but, as with event-opening time, opening or
closing courts, or beginnings of tourneys, and (can anyone deny) many
multi-remove feasts, time moves at a slightly different pace in the SCA.
Artemisia is purportedly slated to finally do the Kingdom thing sometime in
1997, last I heard.  That's a good nine years or better, from inception to
kingdom, even with fulfilled requirements.  The BoD apparently just doesn't
like rushing into this new Kingdom thing, so don't hold your breath
(actually, from the sound of some of you, maybe the breath-holding thing
would be advisable).   

If I'm reading the multitude of posted assumptions and hearsay correctly,
the proposed principalities might very well remain principalities in
perpetuity.  I certainly wouldn't be wasting my breath (or carpal tunnel) on
debating how good an idea having separate kingdoms is.  Besides, if an area
has the far-reaching potential for kingdom-don, why is everyone so eager to
squelsh it at the outset?  Some people are so threatened by the least
suggestion of change, it's ridiculous.  To paraphrase another recent
posting, get a grip, people.  This is a game. Yes, a very grand and
extensive game, but a game nonetheless.  Think about it. You reach out to
the SCA for variety and diversity of life experience, then fight like hell
to maintain the artificial status-quo.  I, too, suggest seeking perspective
here, people, and maybe some personal inventory taking on your own
individual agendas.  

Second, Ansteorra is geographically enormous.  Sometimes that kind of
vastness, instead of inspiring solidarity, creates isolation, or at the
least, feelings of being left out of a bigger picture.  The making of the
Principality of Artemisia actually helped to nurture a feeling of comraderie
and consolidation.  It was also, to paraphrase another recent posting, quite
fun.  Involvement with concerns over things like exactly how the ensignia
should look and where to have the first coronet list and who would make the
regalia, etc., etc., took people's minds off grumping about feeling isolated
and out of things and whatever other petty things people bicker about.
Principalities can be much fun indeed.

I'd also like to make a modest observation/suggestion:  Developing and/or
feigning regional/ethnic/factional sensitivities is NOT a healthy means of
encouraging cohesion, loyalty, or any type of true patriotism.  It only
deepens wounds, maintain gaps (political, social, emotional) and serves to
make one look more like a whiner than anything else.  It's much healthier to
maintain a sense of humor, be able and willing to laugh at one's self and
not overly develop the tendency to take one's self too seriously.  If you
can't laugh at yourself, then others are almost certain to assume that
responsibility--frequently with glee.


A fairly impartial (albeit somewhat long-winded) observer,

Aquilanne Jessica Grace, OL, OP, Baroness, etc.