Huzzah! You have found my Inspiration to Knighthood! Well Done!
Knighthood has evolved a lot. Believe it or not, there are many European nations that have an unbroken tradition of knighthood, including specific Orders that have existed for centuries. In England, they have more than one form of it, including the Order of the Garter which has only a very specific number of "seats" that it keeps filled. In all of these cases, it's a title that has the much later connotation of what knighthood was, that it was evolving into during the Renaissance.
You Sir Edward are correct on this. This just comes to show that Knighthood in England is more of a fancy title that you can play around as if it meant nothing to you. (WRONG!)
I agree, most of the general knightings we see in England today aren't what they used to be. To me it almost seems like it's a desperate attempt by their royalty to remain relevant in popular culture. I mean, Bill Gates? Really?
Oh YES! I mean, the men here do not follow real Chivalry so why give Knighthood to "Traitor Knights"
As for the idea of titles and knighthood in the US, there's some wiggle-room here. The constitution prevents the government from officially offering or sanctioning titles. However, there's nothing to stop private citizens from doing what they want in this regard, or private organizations (religious institutions, fraternal organizations, clubs, Orders, etc) from using whatever names and titles they wish. You can still be knighted by a foreign power, but the US government is disallowed from giving you any special treatment due to it. Royal bloodlines can live within our borders and retain their "royalty" in the eyes of the world.
So being knighted by town mayors doesn't carry any force of law behind it, but there's nothing to stop anyone from having a ceremony and using the word "sir" if they want to. In the UK I think you'd still be OK to do this within a private organization, but they have legal titles in their country, so going around calling yourself "sir" in a public context there would be a bad idea.
So I think you can call yourself a "real" knight if you've been knighted by someone else who is a "real" knight, or by one the of the orders or royalty in an existing unbroken tradition or bloodline, or if you're in a private organization that uses the title. The latter is an important point, I think, as that can include the various knightly groups that have sprung up all over the place.
Yep, we Americans have the Freedom and Right to grant unto anyone who is deemed worthy of Knighthood (based on character and merit or service to community and country, can be through the military or through this service). Even though it may not be the norm to address someone as "Sir" but walking the Chivalric Walk is what makes anyone a real Knight, someone who knows and understands the Value of Honor, Loyalty and Truth in a degraded society.
I think what he's doing is a prime example of a grassroots campaign...he's not waiting for the interested or curious to come to him, he's bringing it to them, to the classrooms, the assemblages. His behavior in this regard is knightly, as he spreads the knowledge of knighthood to the 'ignorant' and 'unwashed' masses.
yep, that is true. That is a Chivalrous Deed in itself. Educating young people with the truth rather than "edited" History.
It's interesting that he mentions how the US can knight people, and not just England. Anyone know if there's any logic/truth to that? It's a bit hypocritical, but I feel like knighting in england is mostly hollow in this day and age. Elton John? Patrick Stewart? Paul McCartney? Alfred Hitchcock? Seems there are innumerable others deserving of that honor, like the ones who perform feats of heroism and get little more than the requisite "15 minutes of fame", if even that....
You are right on this Sir Red (lol!) The Accolade in Engalnd has turned into nothing but a emblem of moral vanity.
Well, for my part, knighthood was never conferred upon me, I assumed that mantle years ago- as a child it was an aspiration I never totally forgot and as an adult, I espouse many of the chivalric ideals and try to live them. Does this make me a knight? As far as I'm concerned, it does.
Out of Honesty, I myself can say that is my reason why real Knighthood is more personal than just a title granted for excellence. I also can say that is how I also took up the mantle during my childhood days. That is how life is to be lived, by living up to the ideals and principles that govern a true Knight
as being part of western culture, it's part of our own cultural heritage. A legacy that we've all inherited.
Yep, this is our heritage that no one cannot mess around or even destroy. This is a legacy that ennobles even children to become the best in their lives.
Well that is my take on this post.
