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I just sent the following letter...
Sep. 29th, 2009 10:23 amI just sent off the following letter regarding Ysabella's Level 2 Exile from the Realm. Cut out of politeness for my non-WK or uninterested readers. ( Read more... )
Sep. 29th, 2009
...as well as ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mastersantiago' most recent post, I have the following to say:
I -- and I strongly suspect most of you, my readers -- have no data currently available that supports the idea that Their Majesties bear any ill-will towards Ysabella, or that the Exile was done maliciously. All I/we know is that somehow the SCA Seneschal received accusations against Ysabella from persons or persons, and that the SCA Seneschal [edited correcton] *recommended* that this Exile be leveled. According to the available data, SCA process was followed in that Ysabella was duly notified before the Exile was implemented, and that the SCA has 10 days to inform Ysabella what the specific charges are. Asmastersantiago has said, the best thing we can all do is to not speculate or spread rumors. Truth will out, I am sure.
This specific incident aside, however, I am deeply troubled by the following general observation, namely, that SCA Corporate has demonstrated that it can, according to the rules, punish an individual before that individual has been given the opportunity to respond to charges made against them. This gives me the creeps.
Of course, in cases where local civil or criminal law has been violated, those cases are (or at least should be!) handed over to those authorities and worked out in a court of law. I would argue, however, that people are still innocent until proven guilty in our country, and that that the SCA should withhold punishment until such an individual is convicted of a crime.
But what this event is telling me so far is that I can be accused of something serious enough to merit punishment by the SCA (underwater basketweaveing with minors!) but not serious enough that it merits the attention of civil authorities or law enforcement, and that I can be punished before I know exactly what I'm being accused of, who is accusing me, and before I have had a fair opportunity to defend myself. Once this specific incident (i.e. Ysabella's exile) is resolved I plan to write some letters to the BoD arguing for a more fair process; one where individuals are, indeed, presumed innocent until proven guilty.
mastersantiago' most recent post, I have the following to say:I -- and I strongly suspect most of you, my readers -- have no data currently available that supports the idea that Their Majesties bear any ill-will towards Ysabella, or that the Exile was done maliciously. All I/we know is that somehow the SCA Seneschal received accusations against Ysabella from persons or persons, and that the SCA Seneschal [edited correcton] *recommended* that this Exile be leveled. According to the available data, SCA process was followed in that Ysabella was duly notified before the Exile was implemented, and that the SCA has 10 days to inform Ysabella what the specific charges are. As
mastersantiago has said, the best thing we can all do is to not speculate or spread rumors. Truth will out, I am sure. This specific incident aside, however, I am deeply troubled by the following general observation, namely, that SCA Corporate has demonstrated that it can, according to the rules, punish an individual before that individual has been given the opportunity to respond to charges made against them. This gives me the creeps.
Of course, in cases where local civil or criminal law has been violated, those cases are (or at least should be!) handed over to those authorities and worked out in a court of law. I would argue, however, that people are still innocent until proven guilty in our country, and that that the SCA should withhold punishment until such an individual is convicted of a crime.
But what this event is telling me so far is that I can be accused of something serious enough to merit punishment by the SCA (underwater basketweaveing with minors!) but not serious enough that it merits the attention of civil authorities or law enforcement, and that I can be punished before I know exactly what I'm being accused of, who is accusing me, and before I have had a fair opportunity to defend myself. Once this specific incident (i.e. Ysabella's exile) is resolved I plan to write some letters to the BoD arguing for a more fair process; one where individuals are, indeed, presumed innocent until proven guilty.