Does Chivalry deserve a come back?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Harley Faggetter on January 2, 2012 at 5:38pm

They never claimed to be chivalrous. They were monastic knightly orders, not chivalric.

Permalink Reply by Dogly on January 2, 2012 at 4:56pm

I don't ask for chivalry.  I want justice. (and a little courtesy would be nice.)

Permalink Reply by Alice on January 3, 2012 at 12:52am

According to this site - justice is part of chivalry - the only one I would change is no. 6, from 'women' to 'others' and 'sexism' to 'inequality'.

Upon my honor,

1. I will develop my life for the greater good. 
   
2. I will place character above riches, and concern for others above personal wealth. 
   
3. I will never boast, but cherish humility instead. 
   
4. I will speak the truth at all times, and forever keep my word. 
   
5. I will defend those who cannot defend themselves. 
   
6. I will honor and respect women, and refute sexism in all its guises. 
   
7. I will uphold justice by being fair to all. 
   
8. I will be faithful in love and loyal in friendship. 
   
9. I will abhor scandals and gossip-neither partake nor delight in them. 
   
10. I will be generous to the poor and to those who need help. 
    
11. I will forgive when asked, that my own mistakes will be forgiven. 
    
12. I will live my life with courtesy and honor from this day forward. 

Taken from: http://www.chivalrynow.net/

Their aimed to capture this chivalry in the script of Merlin quite well - http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/merlin_s...

LOL

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on January 5, 2012 at 7:24am

I don't know about chivalry ... but how about plain-and-simple MANNERS?!?

This is something that I've run onto since I moved in with the woman who has now become my wife. It frequently amounts to nothing more complex than saying "thank you" and MEANING it, being attentive, doing simple things because one of us knows it will please the other, and it can be as basic as holding a door (which we BOTH do for each other) and remembering how she likes her coffee.

I find it lifts my mood as well as makes the day-to-day relationship with her that much more enjoyable. The neatest thing about is that it doesn't cost you a dime, but the payback is fantastic!

Permalink Reply by Alice on January 5, 2012 at 8:28am

Loren - manners are good too - I like them - I think though that something a bit more complex is called for sometimes - in sticky social situations perhaps - or when your relationships are tested and you are put under pressure....   

Permalink Reply by Troy Gorsline on January 5, 2012 at 11:44am

I find the entire topic of Chivalry facinating. From a person who has always struggled with the balance of idealism and pursuit of perfection with the reality of this next-to-impossible task. Also, being male who was raised very "traditionally" (I can still hear my father's voice, "Son, what are you doing sitting down while there is a woman who is standing?"), I am amazed at the lack of general respect I see on a daily basis.

Saying all this, I would be remiss if I didn't point out the obvious. The reason a code of chivalry was originally needed was the fact that nights were the most selfish, feudal, sexist skum-bags of the day. If there was a warlord in Englaind named Arthur, the last thing 99% of knighted soldiers were was chivalrous. The intire idea was grudgingly accepted and very rarely practiced. But this isn't the point of the discussion.

The point of this discussion is the need of chivalry in the modern context. I believe it is. Not chivary from man to woman, but chivalry from one to all. It is a very ambitious idea, but one I believe is acheivable (or at the very least deserving to be sought after).

Just like romantic poems and "chick flick" romantic comedies. We all want love to be this way and strive to it every day. Unfortunately, it rarely - if ever - is reality.  

 

Permalink Reply by Alice on January 5, 2012 at 4:53pm

Go Troy - I totally agree - love your name by the way.... :)

What's wrong with wanting to maintain high ideals - even if we make mistakes - admit them and ask for forgiveness and move on - how honourable is that!  I really do respect people who can do this - and would like to take it on as my way of being - 

Avoiding value judgements also - in basic chit chat conversations - saving up value judgements for well thought out rare occasions when it is called for as a matter of honour, loyalty and friendship -

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