Building ecPeer - was (Re: Earl Dafydd)

[wilsey@infodata.com (Wilsey, Marty)]

     Tadhg Said "in one of his serious moods":
     
     ]I'm having some difficulty with this discussion of knighthood. Some of 
     ]the squires sound like they fancy themselves as Lego sets and their 
     ]knights as talented 4-year-olds.
     
     ]Peers (that's Knights, Laurels, AND Pelicans) are NOT "made", "built" 
     ]or whatever else fits the pattern. Peers are RECOGNIZED.
     
     ]When we can "build" ecPeer, then that peerage will have been reduced 
     ]to a checklist of "things to do to get X". If we get to that point, I 
     ]wouldn't give 2 for the privilege--actually, the privilege wouldn't 
     ]be worth 2. Fortunately, we're not there yet--and don't appear to be 
     ]headed down that path.
     
     ]Peers are supposed to be exemplars, guides, and teachers. Peerages 
     ]imply a responsibility--not a prize.
     
     ]To me, the stuff of a Peer comes from the inside. The guidance of 
     ]someone already recognized may hasten the fruition--but they can't 
     ]give you what you don't have. By the same token, they can't take away 
     ]what you do have. Think more on that plane.
     
     ]Regards,
     ]Tadhg
     ](in one of his serious moods...I think I need a beer)

Well put.

   This is a very common problem at a lot of martial arts schools too. Do this 
and this and this and you get a black belt. That'll be $695.95 and thank you 
very much.

     ]To me, the stuff of a Peer comes from the inside. The guidance of 
     ]someone already recognized may hasten the fruition--but they can't 
     ]give you what you don't have. By the same token, they can't take away 
     ]what you do have. Think more on that plane.

   I repeat this section because it is on the inside of a true Peer that the 
grass is green, the sky is blue and the sun shines brightest. 
   I'm not a Peer and I don't play one on TV but I'll stick my neck out and say,
somehow, to actively seek a peerage (of any kind) seems like vanity. It's good 
to aspire to something. But at some point ask yourself, what it is that you are 
really aspiring to? 

   The token is tarnished by desire for it. 

As Always,

Luther (who wants to buy Tadhg that beer)
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luther@infodata.com