2005-09-01
(a work in progress)
This is a series of essays about patterns of observed behavior in the SCA Middle Eastern subculture that are called SCA Tribalism (for lack of a better term.) Some are clearly drawn from the traditions and ethos of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). The balance of these behaviors appear to follow the traditional form of classic familial and tribal social paradigms.
Cardinal virtues of the ethos may be kindness, courage, and honesty.
Hospitality and tolerance are evident as forms of kindness. This also manifests itself in actions like sharing instead of instructing, or in the inclusion of others.
The evidence of courage and encouragement are seen in the teaching or sharing of knowledge.
It seems to be casteless as a general rule, which is at odds with the typical SCA social architecture.
(Pankrant's theme)
The Dream(tm) is an illusion. An illusion is a work of magic. Pennsic is a place where magic happens. Is there a man behind that curtain?
It is my experience as an amateur magician that the illusion is magical when the observers believe that what they see is real. This belief is the second order of magic, in a mathematical sense. The more who believe in the illusion, the stronger and more vibrant it seems. Just look at Santa!
But the magic will not be without believers, and therein lies the difficulty. You can no more compel belief than you can compel trust. The question to be answered is, "what could make a group of people believe in the same thing?" The answer is the third order of magic, and may very well be ownership or enfranchisement.
It can be said that people will be reasonable when you give them reasons. If reasonable people are invested in something such as our joint illusion, would that not be a reason to believe in it? This property was recognized long ago in the inscription on the crowns of the Kingdom of the West, "We rule because They believe."
I do believe in magic! If I share it with you, will you believe too? There's plenty of magic to go around for everyone that wants some.
(sayings of Fadillah)
Its not just hospitality that makes a hafla, but what the guests do for each other. What the musicians, magicians, cooks, poets, dancers, and Chengir weave into a tapestry for the senses that dazzles artist and audience alike.
There are two rules to hospitality; the host must provide and the guests must be entertaining.
(Neefa's theme)
Enthusiasm is infectious.
Be happy in your wok. People listen better when you feed them.
(Thanks to Basina)
The first impression may be the only one.
Cecil B. DeMille would be proud of us. It's entirely possible that everybody's first garb was made from what they saw in a movie. I remember one event where a friend came to me all excited with his garb. "How does it look? I copied it from Lawrence of Arabia!"
If it looks like a duke...