<div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Dear Lady Eleanor Cleavely,</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>I offer my humblest apologies to you for it seems that I have beet unclear.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m terribly </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>afraid that I have misrepresented both myself and the Goliards to you.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have no idea </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>why else you would have drawn these erroneous assumptions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I offer to you an </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>explanation of sorts, if you will.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>First
I must say that your opinion is as appreciated as </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>the next, even if I do not agree with them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You see, I have said before that everyone’s </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>game, Dream, Kingdom, and even opinions are something that should be considered in </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>all things.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, I am somewhat deeply hurt that you do feel that these things are </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>true.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>It is very late at night but I feel that I must see this done or else dwell upon it all night.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>will go in order via quote:</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div><PRE>-“Funny, that's not what you said at the Warlord Bardic when you </PRE><PRE>performed a piece that essentially stated that we who play the game </PRE><PRE>today are causing the downfall of the SCA "as it used to be". In fact, </PRE><PRE>you talked about backstabbing, politics and exhorted those in the </PRE><PRE>audience to "rise up" and "change the game". I don't know about you, </PRE><PRE>but I like the game just fine the way it
is.”</PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>...I was told that many people could not hear me at Warlord’s bardic </PRE><PRE>and so you may have misheard me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I said even then that I wished not to </PRE><PRE>harm but to help.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Yes, my piece did speak of some of my perceived </PRE><PRE>‘problems.’<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I mentioned backstabbing and politics as well as </PRE><PRE>indifference and inactivity.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What I did not say was anything about the </PRE><PRE>way people play their game.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Anyone is free to play their game as they </PRE><PRE>wish to play it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have a problem with knights who take advantage of </PRE><PRE>new fighters and let as women cart their things and set camp alone as </PRE><PRE>they watch.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </SPAN>I have a problem with artisans being told that they might </PRE><PRE>as well quit A&S if they wouldn’t play politics.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m also tired of </PRE><PRE>people telling me that they can’t say what they think for fear of being </PRE><PRE>politically and socially snuffed out of their beloved game.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If it is </PRE><PRE>wrong to speak against these things then I am greatly confused.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As for </PRE><PRE>urging people to “take up the flame and lead us from this night,” don’t </PRE><PRE>forget that I also said that “through love, and trust, and unity, a </PRE><PRE>kingdom we could be.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I didn’t ask anyone to rebel against anything </PRE><PRE>but the idea, nothing more.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is it wrong to ask people to look to </PRE><PRE>themselves and make sure they
are being who they want to be?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>-...As for the statement on the Goliard group, I believe Lord Nobunaga </PRE><PRE>has explained that.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I forwarded the message by his request.</PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>-“Really? Many people? How many people from other kingdoms have you </PRE><PRE>spoken to about their obvious dissatisfaction with the game? Or is this </PRE><PRE>a mere projection of others' opinions?”</PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>...I do not presume to speak for everyone but I do speak for some.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>How </PRE><PRE>many do you speak for?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As for your question, I have spent a great deal </PRE><PRE>of time observing and gathering the opinions of quite a few people in </PRE><PRE>our kingdom and even some without.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>What would be the point if I was </PRE><PRE>the only one?</PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>-“No. That is NOT your intention, as has been stated previously. Your<o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>intention is to cause division in a group that you and your friends, </PRE><PRE>for whatever reason, are unhappy about. You are speaking out of both </PRE><PRE>sides of your mouth, my lady, and you cannot have it both ways. In my </PRE><PRE>personal experience, if you want to change something, you don't shout </PRE><PRE>from the rooftops that people are beneath you and are cruel, mean, or </PRE><PRE>unworthy. You seek ways to change it from within by being an example </PRE><PRE>for all. You don't go around preaching rebellion. And as for the period </PRE><PRE>aspect of this little game, let me say that if you were in my Kingdom </PRE><PRE>(and yes, even in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:country-region><st1:place>Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region>), your actions would be viewed as treason. Let </PRE><PRE>me speak plainly: You and your group are committing treason. Sure, talk </PRE><PRE>with those in power about things that YOU (and not others, for you have </PRE><PRE>no power to speak for others) feel should be changed. Volunteer to help </PRE><PRE>change those aspects of the game. But the way you and your group is </PRE><PRE>going about this would be counted as treason. It is a dangerous road </PRE><PRE>you tread, my lady, whether this is a game or not.”</PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>...I must now ask you where you get your information, especially on my </PRE><PRE>own opinions, wants, and inner motives.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What little you seem to know </PRE><PRE>about the Goliard and myself seems to be misinformed and unfounded, </PRE><PRE>based on half-truths and miscommunication.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </SPAN>I would ask that you speak </PRE><PRE>with me and/or the other Goliard so that you could really understand.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></PRE><PRE>I have ALWAYS said that I loved Ansteorra and I have ALWAYS done my </PRE><PRE>best to see it prosper.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have never called anyone in the SCA cruel or </PRE><PRE>mean, though I have thought and called a few unfair.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have never said </PRE><PRE>that we should rebel against any one group or person, only unfairness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></PRE><PRE>The Goliard have been fully supporting the idea of leading by example </PRE><PRE>and fully urge everyone to do the same.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>...I am afraid that I must ask you to define our acts of treason </PRE><PRE>because I have no idea what you’re talking about.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You see, in <st1:country-region><st1:place>China</st1:place></st1:country-region> </PRE><PRE>(not <st1:country-region><st1:place>Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region>), the Yu was allowed special judgment on a case to case </PRE><PRE>basis and relied heavily on both how entertaining and wise one was, but </PRE><PRE>the mood of the judging lord.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you truly think I’ve been treasonous </PRE><PRE>then, by all means, speak with my Baron and even King if you wish but I </PRE><PRE>see no harm in what I am doing in encouraging my fellows to do what </PRE><PRE>they believe in.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If I so disliked this game as you say I do then why </PRE><PRE>would I waste so much money and time on it?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No one could afford that, </PRE><PRE>especially me.</PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>-“I beg to differ. The whole purpose
of your group is division and </PRE><PRE>destruction. I see no constructive ideas on how to change, only that </PRE><PRE>you are unhappy and seek to change the game to the way YOU want to play </PRE><PRE>it. Last I checked, this was not YOUR game. This is OUR game.”</PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>...I must beg to differ, dear Lady.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You are simply wrong.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You have </PRE><PRE>been away for a while and must not be rightly informed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I never told </PRE><PRE>people to change the way they play, only to find their Dream and help </PRE><PRE>others find theirs and to speak their ideas without fear of any sort.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></PRE><PRE>If EVERYONE played my way, nothing would get done let alone enjoyed.</PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>-“I suggest you think long and hard about the whys and manner of how
</PRE><PRE>you all are going about this. I can guarantee that if you and your </PRE><PRE>group continue with this idea of division and rebellion, it will only </PRE><PRE>serve to cause more heartache and will not achieve your goal of </PRE><PRE>"unity".”</PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>...I’m terribly sorry you feel this way, as I have said before.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You </PRE><PRE>are entitled to feel that way but I am entitled to feel the way I do.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>----------------</PRE><PRE>Now with that all said, I am puzzled that you couldn’t share these </PRE><PRE>feelings with me when you were so kind to me the other night.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had no </PRE><PRE>idea you felt this way.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Perhaps this whole mess could have been </PRE><PRE>avoided with a simple explanation but I think that this is, in
the end, </PRE><PRE>a good thing really.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I urge everyone to be as passionate as Lady </PRE><PRE>Eleanor and speak their minds when they perceive an unjust act has been </PRE><PRE>committed as well.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I applaud you for your deep honesty and concern.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I </PRE><PRE>also thank you for pointing out how confusing the word ‘war’ is.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We </PRE><PRE>feel that it is misleading to many and that we should have chosen more </PRE><PRE>wisely when using a word so harsh. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>To clarify, there is no war on any </PRE><PRE>single person or group, it is a ‘war’ to be ‘fought’ by example, word, </PRE><PRE>and heart.</PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE>In service to everyone’s Dream,<o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE>Yu Xue XianXian<o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE>Gypsy Queen of the Miscreants,<o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE>Queen of Misrule of the Court of Miracles,<o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE>and SPOON <o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE>at Large<o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE>“Never judge a man by the gifts he bears.”<o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE>-Chinese Proverb<o:p></o:p></PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><PRE><o:p> </o:p></PRE><p>