Why does the Black Veil Matter ?23:23 Mar 19 2011
Times Read: 478
It seems that the big topic of conversation lately is “should the vampire community have a set of rules?” or “why even have any rules, outside of mundane law and common sense?” I’ve seen these arguments on various message boards and I decided that trying to give my opinion on this is probably a moot point. I might as well kick a hornet’s nest. However some people want to know what my stance on this issue is, so here I go.
Throughout history (or herstory), all kinds of communities have come and gone. In those communities, a group of people decided to live together under certain rules, sometimes written and sometimes not. There have always been things that were taboo or against social mores (unspoken rules of a group). The purpose of such rules was social cohesion, keeping order, and a way to define that community from other communities. If you wanted to be a member of that community, you followed the rules or you could leave. If you broke the rules, you were brought before the tribal council and they decided your punishment. This sort of system has survived into our modern times as well.
So what does that have to do with the vampire community? I’ll give you a small scale history lesson. In 1996-97, this was the year of the vampire in the media. A few cases that involved the vampire community wound up in the media, and were overblown for ratings. This was the year of Rodney Farrell, who killed his girlfriend’s parents and took her and his cult to New Orleans. They were arrested in Baton Rouge when one of the group called her mother to arrange for a hotel room. Farrell was convicted of murder and now is serving on Florida’s death row.
Another case that hits close to home is that of John C. Bush. In 1996 he was arrested in Virginia Beach for statutory rape and assault on a minor. He was involved as a role player, and began to build his own little cult of teenage girls. The local press took the story, blew it out of proportion. They made it sound like anybody involved in the Goth scene was a vampire. This made life difficult for the vampire community in Virginia for many years. It also gave rise to a certain “occult expert” named Don Rimer. Over the years the man has been discredited by many, yet still gets my tax dollars to train police officers in “occult crime”. It is because of him and the local media that for years, there was no vampire community to speak of. Everybody kept quiet and didn’t speak of it. The Goth community was horribly negative towards us, because of the bad press they got.
About 5 years ago, a man who ran a Vampyric household was stabbed, injected with silver nitrate, set on fire and hit with a car. He survived to testify against his attackers. They did this at the behest of an ex lover, who claimed he raped her 13 year old daughter. Why didn’t they just go to the police? Since Don Rimer trains the police to think most of the Occult community is crazy (or pedophiles), there is a lot of distrust of law enforcement. This distrust is especially prevalent in the Vampire community. The woman was convicted of being the ringleader, and sentenced to 50 years in jail. She is currently appealing her case.
It wasn’t long after that incident (about 3 years ago), that a group of us decided to form a council and have some form of a community. We chose to recognize The Black Veil as the basis for our laws and traditions. Now some may say that the Veil is just common sense, we’re all adults so why do we even need laws or the Veil? Here’s why, people as a whole are idiots. I wish I could say that common sense should prevail, however these days sense does not seem to be common among many. The Veil was written as a guideline to say “here’s what we would like to see in our communities”. I think it spells out what kind of behavior is not acceptable. In some places it was considered law. While the debate about the merits of anarchy is a whole different ballgame, I can say that I have lived in a community without any sort of laws or structure. It’s not the utopia that so many online imagine it to be.
In Septum Civis (7 cities VA), due to the fact that there have been cases of role players, or predators using a Vampyric persona to take advantage of others, we’ve had to be a little old fashioned. We’ve needed the structure that otherwise was not here. We needed some place for people to go to get a fair hearing of their grievances, since many people in the community do not trust the police (or the local courts). There have been times we have contacted law enforcement to let them know that someone may be involved in criminal activity. Slowly but surely the word is getting out that we, as a community, will not tolerate criminal activity in our name.
However, occasionally we have to have a tribunal to have someone answer for breaking various laws (weather it be the Veil or Mundane law). This is not unlike the rabbinical courts found in the Jewish community, who settle property disputes, divorces, ECT. Being the fact that it is a 3 member voting board (2 co-reagents and 1 household elder), it helps keep in check the idea of anyone getting too powerful, or having too big a head.
So who’s watching the watchers? Anybody is able to bring up issues with anyone and accuse them of wrongdoing, even elders or council members. However, they will need to bring proof of said wrongdoing. We encourage people to ask questions. If you think that we are not doing something right, say so.
If it’s just an issue of a disagreement, so be it, let it be heard and settled. I wouldn’t consider a dispute grounds for exile. Such issues can usually be worked out between the individuals involved, and not have to involve the entire community. Once in a while, this is not the case and the issue is brought to the council. The elders hear the case and give a ruling. I have not had a case where the parties do not walk away shaking hands.
I admit, this community is not for everybody. There are people who have come and gone, and some who have chosen not to be involved in the local community. I don’t have any less respect for them. They have their own personal reasons for not being involved (family, career, ECT).
So here’s the wrap up. I know that giving my opinion on this matter is like kicking a hornet’s nest. However, I’ve seen both worlds. I’ve seen our local scene as disorganized and lawless as it could be, and I’ve seen the fallout and harm it has done to innocent people. I’ve also seen the community that has grown out of the lawlessness, to create some kind of law and order. In this there have been disputes, but the violence of the past is no longer an issue. You can tell me I’m wrong, and go into why it would never work where you are, blah, blah, blah. I can’t make you believe it, or want to do it. Perhaps when the shit hits the fan in those areas who have cast off the old laws and ways, some idiot kills someone (or a few people), gets busted and brings a ton of media attention to the community, and then they will see that the elders weren’t such idiots after all.
All things must adapt and change, including the law. However, laws will always exist, in one form or another
COMMENTS
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Vamptony
03:38 Apr 05 2011
Nice