Comments on: Episode 22: Zombies, Time Travelers and King Arthur http://chivalrytoday.com/episode-22/ Reimagining the Code of Chivalry Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:02:53 +0000 hourly 1 By: Scott Farrell http://chivalrytoday.com/episode-22/comment-page-1/#comment-74772 Scott Farrell Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:24:40 +0000 http://chivalrytoday.com/wp/?p=398#comment-74772 Very interesting perspective, Ray. Glad you found the conversation on Ep 22 thought provoking, even if you don't agree with some of the conclusions. You're right - Twain was not a fan of the 19th century chivalric ethic, and certainly not a fan of the antebellum aristocratic class whose romantic ideals about warfare, sparked by neo-Gothic novels like Sir Walter Scott's, had brought about the suffering of the Civil War and its aftermath. But is his work "A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court" a critique of the wealthy class, or a dark warning that we <em>all</em> can become desensitized and oblivious to our own hypocrisies if we do not constantly monitor our own motives and methods? (The book does end, after all, with "enlightened" Hank starting a war that sounds eerily reminiscent of the horrors of WWI.) I can't believe that Twain would really have objected to the core tenets of nobility - the character trait, not the social class - responsibility, personal integrity, and ethical leadership. Very interesting perspective, Ray. Glad you found the conversation on Ep 22 thought provoking, even if you don’t agree with some of the conclusions.
You’re right – Twain was not a fan of the 19th century chivalric ethic, and certainly not a fan of the antebellum aristocratic class whose romantic ideals about warfare, sparked by neo-Gothic novels like Sir Walter Scott’s, had brought about the suffering of the Civil War and its aftermath. But is his work “A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court” a critique of the wealthy class, or a dark warning that we all can become desensitized and oblivious to our own hypocrisies if we do not constantly monitor our own motives and methods? (The book does end, after all, with “enlightened” Hank starting a war that sounds eerily reminiscent of the horrors of WWI.) I can’t believe that Twain would really have objected to the core tenets of nobility – the character trait, not the social class – responsibility, personal integrity, and ethical leadership.

]]> By: Ray Ford http://chivalrytoday.com/episode-22/comment-page-1/#comment-74732 Ray Ford Wed, 26 Oct 2011 06:51:11 +0000 http://chivalrytoday.com/wp/?p=398#comment-74732 I finally listened to this podcast (sorry I'm so far behind). It's a good episode. Scott Nokes is very knowledgeable, and he stuck to the subject, which is refreshing! And he mentions Buffy, so how cool is that?!? I agree with Nokes when he says that Chivalry is composed of common ethical themes (my words not his), but as I'm reading the book, I have to believe that Mark Twain is right on in his satiric mocking. The repeated "They are like children" is like saying they are innocent of their beliefs. I believe this. The rich, no matter what time period, are ignorant of their surroundings - that is until their heads are cut off.... In a larger sense Twain is saying "we all believe on some level what we say or believe, but we're ignorant of what we actually DO." Jonathan Swift mocks society in much the same way in "Gulliver's Travels." The recent "Occupy Wallstreet" movement differentiates the common from the wealthy. It's fun to watch the one percent try to fit their mold into the 99%'s. This is largely the reason why, IMO, that Nobility is truly a farce. I just can't believe that they - Nobility/Wealthy - are concerned about the greater good. They "think" they are concerned, but we see how it ends up. The Nobles have no concept of the world around them - even when piled high with dead bodies. Twain portrays it first in a comical manner then turns to dark irony, but hey it's the same thing. Look at Gaddafi. Anyways... this is a great topic and a great reason why Chivalry Today opens a unique and valuable perspective into our regular, mundane lives. Keep up the good work! I finally listened to this podcast (sorry I’m so far behind). It’s a good episode. Scott Nokes is very knowledgeable, and he stuck to the subject, which is refreshing! And he mentions Buffy, so how cool is that?!?

I agree with Nokes when he says that Chivalry is composed of common ethical themes (my words not his), but as I’m reading the book, I have to believe that Mark Twain is right on in his satiric mocking. The repeated “They are like children” is like saying they are innocent of their beliefs. I believe this. The rich, no matter what time period, are ignorant of their surroundings – that is until their heads are cut off…. In a larger sense Twain is saying “we all believe on some level what we say or believe, but we’re ignorant of what we actually DO.” Jonathan Swift mocks society in much the same way in “Gulliver’s Travels.” The recent “Occupy Wallstreet” movement differentiates the common from the wealthy. It’s fun to watch the one percent try to fit their mold into the 99%’s.

This is largely the reason why, IMO, that Nobility is truly a farce. I just can’t believe that they – Nobility/Wealthy – are concerned about the greater good. They “think” they are concerned, but we see how it ends up. The Nobles have no concept of the world around them – even when piled high with dead bodies. Twain portrays it first in a comical manner then turns to dark irony, but hey it’s the same thing. Look at Gaddafi.

Anyways… this is a great topic and a great reason why Chivalry Today opens a unique and valuable perspective into our regular, mundane lives. Keep up the good work!

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