A few days ago, I announced on Facebook that we had assisted in the formation of our first black South African youth development initiative, which is spearheaded by Khule Ndlovu. The announcement drew a number of congratulations and well wishes, but you know how it goes, right? There's always one.
This Facebook "friend" (he only remained such for as long as it took me to find his page and unfriend him) just had to go and spout a load of nonsense, which I will quote below. This is not for the purpose of legitimising the comment, but so that we can have it on hand to reference while I prove how thoroughly uneducated this person really is.
My friend and fellow writer, Matthias Kainz, actually reposted this comment in disgust and disbelief. He had the decency and kindness to blank out the guy's name and profile picture. Me? I think that if you want to post crap on the internet, you should have the balls to do it with your name attached. And this is where the "defending the cavewoman" title comes in: I am quite happy to drag this sad little fish up onto the bank and into the light where we can all beat the crap out of him with clubs, because that is what I would have done, IF he had made his comments in person. In this case, I think it's quite appropriate to let the cavewoman out to have some fun. So here goes:
Raymond L Dupuis:
Blacks are forbidden to duel or challenge a European knight. I say rubbish and poppy cock to allow non Europeans to challenge and take part in European culture and traditions. Do not lie and lead them on. They have country, their own jungle traditions. I do not condone mixing our traditions in the name sports or profit. Gladiators to death okay, knights of Europe, no. Is nothing sacred anymore. A black will never be my equal. Never
So, there were a number of replies, some of which made me squint and then giggle a bit (thanks, Jade!), and others which made me feel like I really need to brush up on my history in general. Like, all of it (thanks, Adrian and Laurent!) And they were pretty much all in the same vein, ie. "you're an idiot who knows bugger-all about the real world, etc. etc." and that was very good, because to be honest, when I saw this, I got that reaction. You know, the cavewoman reaction? Where your heart starts beating as if it's going to burst out of your chest like a baby alien and squeal at you, and you get those flickers of black around your vision, and all of your muscles start tensing, especially those ones involved in making people hurt?
NOW, I can calmly write about this, but at that point, I had to take a number of deep breaths and remind myself that arguing over the internet is like competing in the Special Olympics, and so I just made a very short reply and got rid of the dude.
I also sent another friend a message asking if this was indeed the standpoint of the European sword community, which, of course, it isn't. Once I had verified that, I had chilled a bit and was able to think logically.
NOW, let's examine what this individual (no doubt after announcing this opinion to close on 500 other fighters, he is indeed an individual, as in alone) had to say.
Blacks are forbidden to challenge Europeans in combat? Hmmm... The Arthurian legends say otherwise. In fact, Sir Morien was a black warrior whose mother was a Moorish princess, and thus as nobilty, he was a knight. He is also known in Christianised Europe as Saint Maurice, Knight of the Holy Lance and patron saint of the Holy Roman Empire. Here is an effigy of him:
http://medievalpoc.tumblr.com/post/55426449653/sir-morien-black-knight-of-the-round-table-the
It was considered quite acceptable for those of differently-hued skin to assume places of honour in Europe, and so that claim of Raymond's is, as he says, "poppycock".
Apparently they have "their own jungle traditions". Now, as someone who was born in Africa, has lived in Africa for all of her life, and who considers herself to be, at least African, if not somewhat Zulu, I can totally testify to the fact that we have no jungles in this part of the continent. We do have some indigenous forests, coastal and inland, but nothing that can be classified as "jungle" by our local botanists.
Also, as someone who has a Bachelor's degree cum laude with a major in IsiZulu Studies, I can also confirm that nothing in my studies of traditional Nguni practices, nor in my personal, face-to-face, up-close-and-personal, having actually been there experience has led me to believe that any of the Nguni traditions are based in jungles.
Lastly, the issue of "mixing traditions" is an interesting claim because we come across it so often in South Africa, when those opposing racial and cultural integration will mark something as "white" or "back" or "unAfrican" in an effort to discourage people from practising aspects of another culture that they themselves disapprove of. Our hardly-esteemed president Jacob Zuma, for example, cited walking one's dog on a leash as a "white" activity. Of course, we all laughed and made a circle with our fingers next to our heads because that's what politicians do when they're about to be bust for something (oh let's say like stealing taxpayers' money for their own ends) and they want to create a distraction. In this case, though, the guy is not really a politician. So I ask, why is he so desperate to create a distraction? Is he scared of facing off against a black opponent? Maybe (and I do surmise here) his overly inflated opinion of himself doesn't allow for the possibility of being beaten by those whom he believes are below him in status.
Well, to that I say, it's a new world, buddy. Best learn to live in it.
But as a rule, and to back up my claim that the issue of "mixing traditions" is a redundant exercise, firstly, let us remember that we had SAMURAI at this year's IMCF. Genuine Japanese warriors. How's that for mixing traditions? No-one died, right? Even though it was medieval combat. And also, "There has never been a time when Europeans were exclusively white people. " (Kimberley Smithbower Roseblade)
As a sidenote about the "for profit" comment, I think that any real swordfighter will know that in terms of the sport and support, there is never any profit to be considered, let alone involved, in fighting at this level. Maybe when swordfighting becomes as popular as soccer or rugby, then we can revisit that bit of comedy.
Now, on that last comment of Raymond's... "a black will never be my equal"?
Well, now, that's just far too plain to argue. I'm afraid in that respect, I must agree with the Monsieur Depuis on that point. A black will never be his equal. That would be an insult to my black brothers, in my country and everywhere else in the world.
But on a complete tangent, that statement did bring back a quote from one of my favourite movies, Empire Records: when they arrest that kid who calls himself Warren Beatty, and as they forcibly remove him from the shop, he squeaks in this high, adolescent my-voice-hasn't-yet-broken whine, "I'll be back and you'll be sorry!" And Joe, the manager replies sarcastically, "I'm already sorry."
My tricksy, fun-loving mind insists that Raymond would look and sound just like Warren. If Raymond has the stones to post an actual photo of himself, that is.
As far as I'm concerned, the moment that I earned that bronze medal in Women's Polearm at IMCF, medieval combat became part of my country's sporting heritage. Not just for white people, but for all South Africans, as a nation, to share in, and no-one - especially not Raymond L Depuis - will dissuade me from inviting people of all ages, ethnicities, cultures or economic backgrounds to come and join us as we beat the crap out of each other with swords, maces, polearms, shields, and the odd cavewoman club.
So, there were a number of replies, some of which made me squint and then giggle a bit (thanks, Jade!), and others which made me feel like I really need to brush up on my history in general. Like, all of it (thanks, Adrian and Laurent!) And they were pretty much all in the same vein, ie. "you're an idiot who knows bugger-all about the real world, etc. etc." and that was very good, because to be honest, when I saw this, I got that reaction. You know, the cavewoman reaction? Where your heart starts beating as if it's going to burst out of your chest like a baby alien and squeal at you, and you get those flickers of black around your vision, and all of your muscles start tensing, especially those ones involved in making people hurt?
NOW, I can calmly write about this, but at that point, I had to take a number of deep breaths and remind myself that arguing over the internet is like competing in the Special Olympics, and so I just made a very short reply and got rid of the dude.
I also sent another friend a message asking if this was indeed the standpoint of the European sword community, which, of course, it isn't. Once I had verified that, I had chilled a bit and was able to think logically.
NOW, let's examine what this individual (no doubt after announcing this opinion to close on 500 other fighters, he is indeed an individual, as in alone) had to say.
Blacks are forbidden to challenge Europeans in combat? Hmmm... The Arthurian legends say otherwise. In fact, Sir Morien was a black warrior whose mother was a Moorish princess, and thus as nobilty, he was a knight. He is also known in Christianised Europe as Saint Maurice, Knight of the Holy Lance and patron saint of the Holy Roman Empire. Here is an effigy of him:
http://medievalpoc.tumblr.com/post/55426449653/sir-morien-black-knight-of-the-round-table-theIt was considered quite acceptable for those of differently-hued skin to assume places of honour in Europe, and so that claim of Raymond's is, as he says, "poppycock".
Apparently they have "their own jungle traditions". Now, as someone who was born in Africa, has lived in Africa for all of her life, and who considers herself to be, at least African, if not somewhat Zulu, I can totally testify to the fact that we have no jungles in this part of the continent. We do have some indigenous forests, coastal and inland, but nothing that can be classified as "jungle" by our local botanists.
Also, as someone who has a Bachelor's degree cum laude with a major in IsiZulu Studies, I can also confirm that nothing in my studies of traditional Nguni practices, nor in my personal, face-to-face, up-close-and-personal, having actually been there experience has led me to believe that any of the Nguni traditions are based in jungles.
Lastly, the issue of "mixing traditions" is an interesting claim because we come across it so often in South Africa, when those opposing racial and cultural integration will mark something as "white" or "back" or "unAfrican" in an effort to discourage people from practising aspects of another culture that they themselves disapprove of. Our hardly-esteemed president Jacob Zuma, for example, cited walking one's dog on a leash as a "white" activity. Of course, we all laughed and made a circle with our fingers next to our heads because that's what politicians do when they're about to be bust for something (oh let's say like stealing taxpayers' money for their own ends) and they want to create a distraction. In this case, though, the guy is not really a politician. So I ask, why is he so desperate to create a distraction? Is he scared of facing off against a black opponent? Maybe (and I do surmise here) his overly inflated opinion of himself doesn't allow for the possibility of being beaten by those whom he believes are below him in status.
Well, to that I say, it's a new world, buddy. Best learn to live in it.
But as a rule, and to back up my claim that the issue of "mixing traditions" is a redundant exercise, firstly, let us remember that we had SAMURAI at this year's IMCF. Genuine Japanese warriors. How's that for mixing traditions? No-one died, right? Even though it was medieval combat. And also, "There has never been a time when Europeans were exclusively white people. " (Kimberley Smithbower Roseblade)
As a sidenote about the "for profit" comment, I think that any real swordfighter will know that in terms of the sport and support, there is never any profit to be considered, let alone involved, in fighting at this level. Maybe when swordfighting becomes as popular as soccer or rugby, then we can revisit that bit of comedy.
Now, on that last comment of Raymond's... "a black will never be my equal"?
Well, now, that's just far too plain to argue. I'm afraid in that respect, I must agree with the Monsieur Depuis on that point. A black will never be his equal. That would be an insult to my black brothers, in my country and everywhere else in the world.
But on a complete tangent, that statement did bring back a quote from one of my favourite movies, Empire Records: when they arrest that kid who calls himself Warren Beatty, and as they forcibly remove him from the shop, he squeaks in this high, adolescent my-voice-hasn't-yet-broken whine, "I'll be back and you'll be sorry!" And Joe, the manager replies sarcastically, "I'm already sorry."
My tricksy, fun-loving mind insists that Raymond would look and sound just like Warren. If Raymond has the stones to post an actual photo of himself, that is.
As far as I'm concerned, the moment that I earned that bronze medal in Women's Polearm at IMCF, medieval combat became part of my country's sporting heritage. Not just for white people, but for all South Africans, as a nation, to share in, and no-one - especially not Raymond L Depuis - will dissuade me from inviting people of all ages, ethnicities, cultures or economic backgrounds to come and join us as we beat the crap out of each other with swords, maces, polearms, shields, and the odd cavewoman club.
