Silverwing aka DarkAngel's blog: "Chivalry"

People seem to have forgotten the concept of chivalry.  Gone are the days of roses, hastily scrawled love poems, and sweet serenades crooned lovingly before a fair maiden.  This ideals have been replaced by a society and a world wherein the women may pretend they want to be courted by a chivalrous gentleman, but in reality the chivalrous man is always the one found wanting in the end.

Chivalry, in all it's romantic forms focuses on the man professing his endless love for a woman, while doing quasi-romantic deed -- deeds that today, immediately drive women away.  When the end of the day comes, we find that the chivalrous man is left alone, to see his love poems, and promises around him, while the woman goes off with the cocky jerk who lifts weights and plays guitar...

Yet chivalry doesn't stop there, even though it is already in such a sad state in today's world.  There are even more curses that have befallen the once ideal way of life.

I would like to meet anyone that has ever stood up for someone that could not or would not stand up for themselves, or defended an ideal or cause, or something that they believed in strongly, that they felt it would make a difference for others. I respect those who would tilt, when others would withdrawl.  Those who show courage, fortitude, and a concrete belief.

What does the world think of these people?  They are the pitiful fools that should be mocked.  Instead of priding themselves on their perfectly tanned and bronzed bodies, they cherish their scars (What once showed courage and strength is now only a blemish to the world), they revel in the pains that life have brought them, and the new ways they have learned to grow in the face of such adversity.  They are more dynamic for what they have lived through -- yet the world sees only poor souls who have been beaten and broken... yet they haven't been so broken as the world seems to believe.  Such a blatantly false perception, yet so widely embraced... it is truly sad.

What then is chivalry?  It is about duty, it is about a way of life that transcends the oft-labeled "mushy" romantic traits.  Living with such duties comes with certain ethics and morals, such as Loyalty, Honor, Courage, Respect, Valor, Truth, Mercy and Kindness. Without these morals, what is there? It is my trenchant belief that all must defend those whom cannot or will not defend themselves -- Chivalry is what I mourn the most in this world we live in, where it seems that it's a true free-for-all regardless of who gets hurt in the process. Chivalry, with its loyalty, honor, and respect. How did the world turn its back on such a noble way of life?

There are codes to help demystify the concept of chivalry, and they can help show what it seems the world has forgotten exists:

There were several lists written down during the Middle Ages. One example code can be found in the book Chivalry by 19th century French historian Leon Gautier:

    * Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.
    * Thou shalt defend the Church.
    * Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.
    * Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born.
    * Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
    * Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.
    * Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.
    * Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word.
    * Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone.
    * Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

This is but one of the codes that were given.  Chivalry is a world-wide concept, and it existed not only in the medieval knights, but all the way to the other side of the globe in the samurais of Japan.

So Chivalry is about the love, but it is also about the character and fortitude of a man.  It is about standing when others would run, it is about standing for beliefs, bold and true, and protecting those you love until your last breath.  Chivalry is about being that outcast, covered in scars, yet standing strong by any and all that you love, all that you care for.  It is about keeping your word, even when it rips you apart inside, and about hurting yourself to ensure others happiness.

Some people claim they don't understand me, and I must agree.  But the problem isn't that they don't understand me, it's that they don't understand what chivalry truly is.

This isn't to say that I will never fall short, but I will regain my footing, and I will make amends and return to what I believe, I will stand until the end, to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and to protect those whom I love.  So if you want to know me, this is who I am -- I am the chivalrous man, a dark angel left to stand alone in a world that's turned its back on chivalry -- but so long as I live, chivalry shall not die: I won't let it.

Here are a few videos that portray some aspects of Chivalry:

The last video depicts firefighters... because within a few of those who serve in public services and the military, their remains that small, ever-diminishing spark of what chivalry was about. To all who serve, I salute you...