[Northkeep] sheesh WAS: "Put out that bloody cigare..." *

[Hugh & Belinda Niewoehner]

Probably shouldn't get involved in this discussion, but my two 
farthings, shillings, whatever:

Belinda and Hugh Niewoehner have never owned slaves...will never own 
slaves and none of their ancestors back until the 1700's (as far as we 
can determine) owned slaves.  Of course, we condemn the institution 
(even though it still occurs in some parts of the world today).

However, Ismet's family owned many slaves.  Damon's family (and he, 
himself later) owned thralls.  It was the Middle Ages (you know that 
thing we're recreating) and it was PC then.  Damon happens to know a 
gentleman in Three Rivers whose persona is a slave trader.  He's also 
black and proudly so.  Many of you have been entertained when Damon and 
others have sung the song he wrote...Zorab's Song.  

Yes, the SCA is a modern organization, but the 'slaves, thralls, 
whatever' that are auctioned are no more really enslaved than the King, 
Baron, Knight, etc.  has any real authority other than what we give them 
in the game.  If you don't like the game, you can always go home. 

As to California
> (Bear in mind that we are governed by a corporation seated in Marin County,
> California.  Look that up on Google Earth.  Notice where it is.  And ask
> yourself how charitably people there might view a bunch of Midwesterners
> playing at slave-games).
>   

the most fun I had in my teenage years was when I was auctioned as a 
slave at the Roman banquet in Ridgecrest, California.  The event was put 
on every year by the :Latin club and the other language departments.  If 
you were a first year language student you were a slave (couldn't give 
anyone orders and had to obey nobles and gods), second year students 
were freeman (only gods could give you orders, but you couldn't order 
anyone else around), third year were nobility (could order slaves 
around) and then the fourth year were gods (ordered anyone around).  
There were limits of course set by the faculty.  Worse thing I ever saw 
was a slave made to push a grape across the floor with his nose.  But 
then there were the fun things like being ordered to pour a glass of 
water on a noble and then being sent by that noble back to do the same 
to the one who'd sent me originally.  Yeah, I know, it probably doesn't 
happen even in Ridgecrest anymore because someone probably abused 
something at some time. 

Life's too short.  I'm tired of walking on eggshells.  I think the press 
has enough epidemics and political nonsense to keep them busy without 
harassing us.

By the way, is Mercedes' raffle still on?  I have a few items.

Ismet