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Of Cabbages and Kings (Beauty and the Beast open letter)
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| Title: | Of Cabbages and Kings |
| Creator: | Sally Newman |
| Date(s): | June 1991 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Beauty and the Beast (TV) |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Of Cabbages and Kings is a 1991 open letter by Sally Newman.
It appears the essay was first submitted to Pipeline and was instead printed in that newsletter's offshoot, the newly-formed The Gathering Place.
Some Context
In January 1991, tensions were very high in Beauty and the Beast (TV) fandom due to changes in the show and the death of a main character.
Many friendships were fractured, and this fandom was a very contentious place as fans turned on each other, divided into factions, accused each other of disloyalty, and were generally heartbroken on how to proceed.
The letter's writer, Sally Newman, had been the organizer of the Beauty and the Beast International Quilt which had been completed and presented at TunnelCon in July 1990. There were accompanying pillows that accompanied the quilt. These pillows were meant to be gifts for individual actors and people involved in the show, and were intended to be given to them personally.
The letter addresses these pillows, as well Newman's feelings about the creation of the quilt. Newman also discuses her feelings about the arguing and bad feelings in fandom.
Some Topics Discussed
- the pillows for the celebrities and how they had become an issue of contention
- Linda Hamilton's subsequent refusal of gifts from fans
- the Beauty and the Beast International Quilt: how it was created, what it meant to fans who sent in content for it, how it felt to create the quilt from scraps of fabric
- Newman's sadness and anger at being asked to "pick sides" in the Beauty and the Beast Wars
- the difficulty in talking about the quilt, feeling sadness that she was revealing her heart to fans who were angry at her perceived opinions
- all of these things were cited by Janis Allyn, the editor of The Gathering Place in her appeal to fans to get along, how this new newsletter would not "provide space for a continuation of this dispute" (but the does just that), and then encourages fans to make another quilt
An Introduction
The editor of The Gathering Place, Janis Allyn, introduced the letter:
In the letter Sally sent to Pipeline (see Page 4) she included a sentiment that should be addressed here. She referred to the "different factions within fandom who are becoming increasingly sensitive toward various aspects of the show and toward each other." This newsletter will not provide space for a continuation of this dispute but it will provide an opportunity for anyone interested in promoting peace to join with others of like mind. Sally mentions a friend, Kathryn, whose bumper sticker reads "Peace is a group effort." I hope that will be the effort of the Gathering Place readers, and I wonder if it would be possible to borrow an ideal saw in a Quaker newsletter. A group of industrious ladies organized the creation of a healing quilt, made up of contributions from all over the world, bits and pieces of many lives, just like the B&B quilt. When anyone from their "meeting" was ill or facing a serious personal crisis, the quilt was offered to that person for support, to remind them that they were not alone. Would anyone be interested in creating a quilt like that for helpers? Would it be possible for members of both sides of the dispute" to contribute? Could we, in joining together bits and pieces of our varied lives, also stitch closed some of the wounds inflicted by this argument? In the process, we may begin to remember what it was we always had in common. B&B fans are very much like a family and in every family there will be disagreements and periods of alienation but in healthy families there will be growth, and an eventual recognition that you can value and respect someone who has strong opinions that are in opposition to your own, maybe even admire them for the strength of their convictions. That time has come.
From the Letter
About the pillows:
It has come to my attention that some misunderstandings exist concerning my feelings on a number of subjects, and while I would think that my feelings about B&B would be of no interest at all to most people, I find now that my silence may actually do more harm than good.
I think sometimes misunderstandings exist because there is a lack of information or communication. It is possible that such a situation exists in regard to the pillows which were given to the guests at Tunnel Con as remembrances of the B&B quilt. A list was published which contained quotations for pillows for stars to whom pillows had not been given. I had requested that quotations for pillows not yet presented not be included on the list, but two such pillows were listed. I think it is preferable, more meaningful, for a person not to know their quotation before they are actually given the pillow. Otherwise some of the impact of the presentation is diluted. I, furthermore, suppose that this incomplete list made it appear that pillows were not made or intended for some stars.
In fact, we would like for all the celebrities to have pillows. I still have pillows which I hope can someday be presented to these celebrities. Please understand that we consider these pillows personal: they are not something we want to send through the mail. Not only would both parties be denied the impact of a formal presentation, but if the recipient had no or limited knowledge of the origin of the pillows, they would have little meaning to them. It is preferable to deliver the pillow personally, not just send it with some note about the quilt attached. In particular, I think that there may have been some people who were upset because they felt that we didn't want Linda Hamilton to have a pillow. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, Linda has a quilt all her own. I sent her a quilt to celebrate the birth of her son. I now understand that she has requested that no further gifts or correspondence from fans be sent to her, and I no longer have any channel through which I might contact her. We have not sent her a pillow because we wanted to honor her wishes and do not wish to act against her request. If someone has information to the contrary, please share it with us so that we may be able to get a pillow to her.
About the quilt:
It has also come to my attention that different factions within fandom are increasingly sensitive toward various aspects of the show and toward each other. I know that it may sound strange to some of you, but I actually have friends who love the third season as well as friends who vehemently dislike it. At Tunnel Con, I expressed the hope that those who gave us B&B would have the opportunity to continue their magic. I am now saying, in addition, that I would like the opportunity to continue my friendships with both "camps". I now understand that people who have never met me personally, people who do not really know me or understand the background of the quilt may have been advised not to support the quilt and what it stands for because I was believed to be "in the enemy camp" and that a show of enthusiasm or support for the quilt would be tantamount to fraternizing with the enemy. The error is to believe that I hold allegiance with any group pro or con the third season. (I am not even a member of any fan club.) I actually see both sides. I think most of us in reality feel the same way about the show, but I realize that intense feelings have sometimes blocked or distorted communication. It is very difficult to hear one another correctly when love has been suppressed by pain, suspicion, or anger. When listening to what might be an opposing point of view, it is all the more important to listen - as Vincent does - with heart and mind as widely open as possible...
The emotions and stories behind the quilt:
The range of emotion I feel when trying to explain the quilt is enormous. Its conception and birth encompassed such joy and love that I constantly struggle under overpowering feelings of inadequacy and frustration. I simply know no words powerful enough to convey the intensity of the love that went into the quilt. I am not just talking about my love for the quilt; I am talking about the love sent in from around the world, from all of the countries and people involved. People didn’t just send in fabric or funds, they sent in pieces of their hearts, their souls, their lives. I would get letters in essence saying.
- Sally, my friend and I love watching and talking about B&B. She is very sick now and won’t live much longer. She requests that you put this fabric in the quilt to remember her by.
- Sally, I was on vacation in 77 when I had the funny feeling I had lost something. I later found out I had lost my mother who had died. 1 was working on a quilt at the time but have been unable to pick up the fabric since then. Would you please include it in the B&B quilt? It seems the right thing to do; it’s resolved something in me.
I’m sure you all know of similar beautiful situations about involvement with this unique show.
- Sally, I’ve recently been diagnosed with an incurable disease. Things have been pretty rough this year, but B&B has somehow given me the emotional stamina to face my illness and go on with my life with hope and happiness.
Newman's feeling of performing an "emotional striptease" when asked to talk about the quilt:
Because there is so much feeling and sentiment connected with the show and the quilt, talking about it - especially in front of a large group - brings great joy; it can also elicit great pain. It is very difficult to explain, but in order to precisely reveal the quilt to those who do not know about it, in order to do it justice, demands that I become vulnerable to the extraordinary emotion which led to its creation. In essence, it requires that I perform an emotional strip tease. That’s as close as I’ve been able to describe how it feels.
Sometimes getting the right words out is excruciating. The responsibility assumed to try to adequately articulate the love of viewers from around the world is enormous; it compounds my feelings of inadequacy. I think about their love, I remember their pain or their courage, and it becomes so overwhelming that it just about puts me away. To discover that I am performing this “emotional strip tease” before a hostile group or even before a group who have been advised to keep cool because someone mistakenly believes I am on “the other side" becomes, as Vincent would say, "there are no words.
On the other hand, the quilt is capable of washing everything but the love away. Remember the end of “Dark Spirit” when Vincent takes the talisman from Catherine, pulverizes it in his fist, and flings it harmlessly over the balcony like so much stardust? Don’t you just love that scene?” That’s sort of what the power of the quilt is like for me. I let its love envelope me, and it washes all the hurt and pain away.
More than anything, I hope all of you will let it do the same thing for you.
Newman asks for peace:
Last year I invited everyone to participate in the quilt project. This year I invite you to come share the love and joy it represents. When you are angry, or in pain, or tired, when you are ready to put the hate and verbal weaponry (no matter how impressive) down, when you are inspired by B&B, its elegance, its style, its values, come with me; remember and celebrate. I want to share B&B with all of you. I will join no one interested in spreading hate for any person or any group; I will join anyone interested in spreading the love and joy. This year’s project is peace. As my friend Kathryn’s bumper sticker reads, one she had long before B&B, “Peace is a group effort”. Let me warn you that peace, like old age, is not for wimps; waging peace (and love) will demand every bit of courage, intelligence, maturity and understanding you can muster. It will also give you everything you’ll ever need.