manners II

just trying to clean up some unfinished blog business. i wrote an installment back in may of 2009 called 'manners I'. you might want to read it if you're going to follow along here. after we're done with this we'll get back to our thoughts on hell and the price of sulphur. 

when i brought up the issue of chivalry at this banquet, i said that even with the adherent  difficulties, i believe we lost something when chivalry was no longer a value we held as important.  there are difficulties with chivalry.  

some people feel that chivalry has a problem because it assumed weakness of the maiden and an inability for her to handle whatever situation in which she found herself.  the knight-errant would slay the dragon for her, or free her from the tower, or lay his cloak over the muddy puddle so she wouldn’t get her dainty, and jewel-shod foot dirty.  for good reason self-respecting and strong women everywhere should reject such a limp-wristed role in society.

as in many areas of our history we made a huge mistake.  in the same way that the protestants threw out the iconic baby with the indulgences bathwater, we have thrown out kindness, gentleness, and honour for the sake of equality.  equality may be a good topic for another blog but i think the loss has been needless.  

in one sense, the idea shouldn't have been that women are weak, powerless, and need help, but that there are people who are weak, powerless, and need help.  to say or think otherwise is unrealistic, naive and/or dishonest. rather than letting go of chivalry it should have been embraced and expanded. i have had the door held open for me by a kind woman (or a man). and i liked it. i have been treated with gentleness when, for one reason or another my tender heart needed care. to be held up and honoured by those who love us would be a remarkable thing. 

and i believe that other societies, and history would view us with perplexed envy. perplexed, because people in this world just don't treat each other with kindness, gentleness, and honour for the most part. envy, because whether people admit it or not everyone desires to be treated with kindness, gentleness, and honour.