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Why do you want to be a Knight?

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Matthew of the Isles:
Though in practice, spears and other polearms held primacy on the actual battlefields of history, I agree that there is something evocative and enduring about both the sword and the swordsman.

Perhaps it is the fact that the sword requires both great skill to forge and great skill to wield to its fullest potential. Perhaps it is the fact that swords, unlike knives, axes, spears and bows, have no other application beyond the taking of human life, meaning that they had no mundane alternative uses to dilute the power of life and death that it has come to represent.

Though I certainly do not wish to disparage the valor or character of the peasant conscripts of history, who fought the enemy with spears and hatchets, improvised weapons, thrown rocks, sticks, harsh language and the like, the swordsman is an archetype that has come to represent a finer grade of warrior, and not just in Europe either, though the European armored knight is the specific variation of that archetype that we here have come to most closely identify with.

Being mindful of the image that we present to others--and making sure that our actions align with such an image--is an important practice, I feel. Although my "kit" as such is only a vaguely sword-shaped piece of wood and a rusty arming sword given to me by a friend, so I have quite a ways to go before I can put such musings into practice!

Sir Sondergaard:
It is`nt something I want to be - it is something I AM... Deep in my heart... Simple as that :-)

Joshua Santana:
Here is my answer to this question.

My reason why I want to be a Knight is because of my personal aspiration to emulate the example of Chivalry as seen in the romances and in such individuals as William Marshal, Betrand du Guesclin, Gutierre Diaz de Gamez etc. 

And yet one will ask why I do so, my answer is this: the example set by these individuals speaks to the heart of those that seek a better path in life where Honor, Loyalty, Courage, Stoic wisdom are valued over base interests such as ill gotten wealth, status and fame etc.  We see in our world people falling victim to hypocrisy, scandal, egoism, moral apathy and arrogance.  We who recognize this are tired of seeing this and we (including myself) make the choice to live life by the standard of excellence (Chivalry) as best we can.

In regards to me, I chose the Path of Chivalry as far back in 2010 with knowing very little about the ideal.  I recall that even as a kid I always had an attraction to the ideal of heroism.  As time went one with further learning and training I came to understand that I have come a long way yet not knowing the why to my actions.  When I found the answer in the past months, this has helped me to resolute in my following the Path of Chivalry or the Way of the Warrior. I have detailed these thoughts in these blog posts I have written:

http://jerseyknyght.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-true-ideal-of-chivalry.html
http://jerseyknyght.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-warrior-path.html
http://jerseyknyght.blogspot.com/2017/04/walking-path.html
http://jerseyknyght.blogspot.com/2017/05/be-man-be-warrior-be-knight.html
http://jerseyknyght.blogspot.com/2017/11/on-vision-noble-cause-and-purpose.html

Why do I want to be a Knight?  The answer: I want to live with Honor so that my life and actions are filled with purpose and that I can be the example so that when a kid sees me and my conduct, they will be inspired to do the same and more.  If I should be married and have a family, I want my example to be emulated by my children not because I force them to do so, but rather they want to of their own volition and inspiration to imitate a father whose personal conduct instills in them honor and humility.  I echo what the Stoics of Greece and Rome, Geoffri de Charny, Baldassare Castiglione, Brad Miner, Miyamoto Musashi, Yammamoto Tsunemoto have been saying: Living by and with Honor as Warriors makes better individuals who thus make society better.

The need for a better life is what we face daily, the will to live life with purpose is another and I believe this is why we are here in this forum.  We all seek a purposeful life, and within the ideal of Chivalry we seek that purpose and aspire to live by it as best we can.  I say; let all of us be united in our joined effort to live and act by the ideal of Honor (Chivalry) so that we can make the better difference in our lives and in people.   

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