Establishing a chivalric order
Since after a long hiatus from random projects likely to fail or be abandoned, I feel it is time to return to that sphere. I have my sights set on an achievable, yet still challenging goal. Radio wave reflecting armour, RFID-killing technology, and CO2 rifles were too easy. A self-contained environment to replicate that of Earth after nuclear war was too tedious to get any further than the construction stage. I lacked funding and experience for social experiments.
But, the idea of a secret-ish society has always intrigued me. The draft that is presented below has been in development for about a month now, with additions and revisions as I think of them, however the concept has been in my mind far longer than any of my other undertakings. The Knights of Anarchy – a society dedicated to the furthering of personal liberty, but also bound by laws of chivalry to defend that which is sacred. I’m also considering “Knights of Liberty” as a name, since “Anarchy” has bad connotations amongst those ignorant or uneducated to its ways. It is my own personal attempt to save the world from what I see as a degradation or complete disregard for values which all humans should hold dear, according to my beliefs anyway. It is my reaction to a collapsing world where hate and aggression are commonplace and such values as freedom, love, and peace are degraded. The ultimate goal – let others live however they wish and be let to live however you desire.
So, now I present the online first draft of my constitution for public viewing and review. Oh, and excuse the pompous and archaic language, for I am eccentric and cannot help myself to write such a document any other way.
The Doctrine of the
Order of
the Knights
of Anarchy,
its establishment and a constitution of its principle.
I : Establishment of the Order of the Knights of Anarchy
Article I: Establishment of the Provisional Fraternal Order
Free and sovereign, we, the individuals of the Order of the Knights and Anarchy, pledge allegiance to no state, man, or god.
Article II: Legislature
The object of the law being to maintain order, freedom and justice shall be the whole of the law. The law is sacred and eternal. [not complete]
II : The Chivalric Code
Article I: Establishment
When a society, or the world as a whole, fails to uphold a universal standard of virtue and relies increasingly on the authority and responsibility exerted by others, it becomes necessary, for sacred Freedom and Justice, to establish a code to which the Free and Just are eternally beholden.
Article II: The Tenets of the Chivalric Code
I. Tenet of Courage
The Courageous must persevere through hard times and have no fear.
II. Tenet of Justice
The Just must show respect for Life, Liberty, and Property.
III. Tenet of Mercy
The Merciful are to judge with fairness and forgive the penitent.
IV. Tenet of Humility
The Humble are to respect others, live within their means, and shun the superficial.
V. Tenet of Patience
The Patient are to exercise temperance and observe the Zero-Aggression Principle.
VI. Tenet of Will
The Generous must give to the poor, help the needy, and protect the weak.
VII. Tenet of Honesty
The Honest must remain faithful to their hearts and never bear false witness.
IIX. Tenet of Knowledge
The Wise must seek enlightenment through the knowledge of the ages.
Respect the eight tenets of the Chivalric Code, and you shall do honor to Freedom and Justice.
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III : Ranks
Article I: Establishment of Ranks and Requirement of Duty
The duties of all ranks are to uphold the Chivalric Code, set an example for others, and stand ready to defend Freedom and Justice. As rank increases, so do the duties expected of that rank.
Article II: Absence of Executive
Because the Order is ruled by the ideals set forth in this Constitution, no single member of the Order shall ever rule over another. Rank establishes prestige and seniority and does not include increased authority, power, or privilege other than what is permitted in the description of each rank.
Article III: Ranks and their Requirements
Layman
Nothing is required of the Layman.
Knight Brother or Knight Sister
The Knight Brother or Sister must prove that they have/can live(d) by the Chivalric Code.
The additional duties of the Knight Brother or Knight Sister include attending and aiding in events.
Knight Errant
The Knight Errant is expected to undertake a mission to benefit his or her local community.
The additional duties of the Knight Errant include organizing events and being ready to accept missions and tasks from leading members.
Knight Guardian
The Knight Guardian is required to undertake a mission to prove his or her responsibility.
The additional duties of the Knight Guardian include being ready to the defend the Order in combat and helping lower ranking members fulfill their duties and missions.
Knight Captain
The Knight Captain shall embark on a personal quest of discovery and enlightenment.
The additional duties of the Knight Captain include organizing missions for lower ranking members in defense of the Order and universal freedom and justice.
And there you have it, so far – my nieve idealism on paper…er screen…unless you print it out to read it. It will likely still go through multiple revisions based on the input of others. Possible additions include: specific article defining voluntary membership in the Order (if you don’t like my rules, you don’t have to live by them), section detailing a provisional army and its organization, and the obvious expansion of Section 1, article 2.
EDIT 11/9/09 ~9:46 PM: fixed alignment issue
zombieapocalypsereactionaryforce
LTstab
Your talk of “fraternity,” “the degradation of mankind,” “knights,” “chivalry” is full of patriarchal fail. Anarchism has to do away with such things, or it can suck my left plastic nut.
Ouch. I don’t want to be full of patriarchal fail. And I don’t think I am, although I can understand where you might be coming from. Don’t think by my liberal use of the words “knights,” “chivalry,” etc reveal that I support the type of elitism that is often represented by the knights of the middle ages, because I don’t. Knights do not necessarily equal nobles or the king’s elite warriors. Remember the Knights of Labour (although they failed)? Anarchism must maintain order somehow (preferably, in my opinion, through the recognition of individual morality rather than a mandated “law,” and my morals may not be yours) or it will consist of angsty teenagers tossing molotovs about and breaking windows and writing on the walls claiming they are “fighting the man.”
As for “the degradation of mankind” I simply mean that I find it sad that many people are no longer doing what they (as humans) are capable of. They would rather watch television or sports than do something meaningful and/or useful. Many people only care about having a good time in the present, with no respect for the past or future. And if people have no past or future, then the rulers have won.
I should add that “fraternal” was not the right to word to use. I honestly don’t know why I wrote that because that isn’t what I meant. Shingles is preferable to membership in a fraternity, especially the college ones.