[DFT] FWD: [ChivalryToday] Applied Chivalry

[Rendell Skaggs]

Applied Chivalry
By Scott Farrell
©2003 Shining Armor Enterprises
www.ChivalryToday.com

Discussing the philosophical nuances of the Code of Chivalry and its 
knightly virtues is easy, but putting those principles into practice in 
the real world can be challenging. In fact, there are some who claim 
that utilizing the Code of Chivalry as a guide for real-life behavior 
is simply not possible - they think chivalry is too idealistic to be 
applied in situations where personal accomplishment or financial reward 
are at stake.
At first glance, this argument might seem valid, yet there are plenty 
of real stories demonstrating that business, sports and politics are 
about more than the unabashed quest for success and gain. Here are two 
accounts from the recent headlines that prove the Code of Chivalry can 
be applied in the real world:

*** One of the most talked-about sporting events of the summer was the 
Tour de France, a 2,100-mile, 23-day European bicycle race that is 
undoubtedly the "Super Bowl" of that sport. From 1999 to 2002 the race 
was won by American cyclist Lance Armstrong; this year he went for his 
fifth consecutive win, a record held by Spanish athlete Miguel Indurain.
By all accounts, there were several top riders who wanted to deny 
Armstrong that glory - ESPN described the 2003 race as "fierce," 
"uncertain" and "action-packed." Yet, when Armstrong's bike was 
inadvertently halted by a collision with a well-intentioned fan, his 
bitter rival, Jan Ullrich, didn't take the opportunity to speed ahead; 
instead, Ullrich stopped and waited for Armstrong to get back in the 
race. It was a reminder that not all victories are equal, and winning 
by overcoming an opponent's skill is far more rewarding and meaningful 
than simply taking advantage of a mishap.
In the end, Armstong beat Ullrich by just 61 seconds - yet Ullrich 
indicated he valued this hard-fought loss far more than an accidental 
victory.

*** California's gubernatorial recall/election has been at the top of 
the news for several months. When movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger 
entered the race, the major networks faced a dilemma: airing 
Schwarzenegger's old movies like "The Terminator" or "Conan the 
Barbarian" might boost their ratings, but federal election rules 
mandated that TV stations give equal time to all candidates. So, since 
the stations couldn't provide two hours of airtime to all 153 
candidates, the networks could not benefit from the media frenzy 
surrounding Schwarzenegger.
Cable stations, however, were not bound by the same rules, and the Sci 
Fi Channel seemed poised to draw huge numbers of viewers with an 
"Arnold Marathon" that was fortuitously scheduled just a few days 
before the election. Rather than exploiting the situation to boost 
their own ratings, however, Sci Fi voluntarily cancelled the broadcasts 
of Schwarzenegger's movies, choosing instead to postpone them until 
after Election Day.
The Sci Fi Channel upheld the spirit, rather than the letter of the 
law, and in so doing sacrificed no small amount of profit - 
demonstrating that dignity and honor can be more valuable than monetary 
gain.

News stories like these (and many others) remind us that chivalry is 
more than idealism. The Code of Chivalry is a practical, applicable 
standard for everyday behavior. Being chivalrous doesn't guarantee 
victory or reward - in fact, these stories prove that chivalrous 
behavior comes at a price - but it does remind us that trophies and 
profits should never be won at the expense of integrity and 
self-respect.

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Have you seen a news item about a business, sports team, politician or 
someone in your community who has put the Code of Chivalry to work in 
the real world? If so, send us a copy of the story or a link to the 
news website (Info at ChivalryToday.com) and we'll share the story with 
Chivalry Today's on-line subscribers. And if we reference a story 
you've alerted us to, we'll send you a Chivalry Today travel mug as a 
way of showing our appreciation.
Don't forget, you're also invited to share your stories of real-life 
"knights in shining armor" for our Portraits in Chivalry section. You 
can read dozens of stories already submitted by our readers when you 
visit the Chivalry Today website!

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Readers are permitted and encouraged to share this article with 
friends, family and co-workers as a way of furthering the understanding 
of the Code of Chivalry to the modern world. Scott Farrell's seminars 
on chivalry and the knightly virtues are available to businesses, 
schools and civic organizations throughout the Southern California 
area; more information can be found on our website. Please include all 
copyright statements and attributions when sharing Chivalry Today 
articles. Copyright 2003 Scott Farrell and Shining Armor Enterprises. 
Visit our website at www.ChivalryToday.com .