Friday, May 12, 2006
A Modest Proposal!
Egon Settle of Arlington, Texas, has come up with a unique way to protest the high cost of gas--by riding Free Fallin', his horse, around town to run errands. He leaves the horse in the parking lot while minding his hair styling business. Reminds me of the time that I saw two people riding their horses along the shoulder of the highway, wearing t-shirts that said, “Keep on Trucking.”
But when was the last memorable time that someone rode a horse to protest a serious drain on his or her pocketbook? First, let’s scratch off our list a whole group of people: Jesse James, Butch Cassidy, Black Bart and similar types. After all when it was all said and done they were actually filling their wallets with the assistance of their horses. In my memory I can’t think of a single one. Although I can recall motorcades of Harleys, 18-wheelers and tractors used in protest. Nope! We have to go back to our history books. Way back to the 11th century. Way back to a different continent. To a time when there knights everywhere. Way back to Coventry, England. Leofric III, Earl of Mercia and Lord of Coventry, had imposed extremely high taxes on his subjects. His wife protested on behalf of the people. The Earl was subjected to incessant appeals. In desperation he finally told his wife he would lower the taxes if, and only if, she would ride naked through the streets of Coventry. To his amazement, Lady Godiva shed her clothes, mounted her horse and took off. Only one person looked. He was given the nickname “Peeping Tom.” Now a promise is a promise even in the Middle Ages, so Leofric lowered taxes.
But the matter did not end there. On May 31, 1678, the people of Coventry decided it was high time to commemorate the event with an annual Godiva procession. Eventually engineers got into the act. They adopted Lady Godiva as their patron saint. They explained that back in the 11th century an engineer was the only person even to notice the horse. Somewhere along the way the Godiva Chocolate company was born. Don’t know what it all means, but one might need to think twice before giving a female friend a box of Godiva chocolates. Is that just a civilized way of double dog daring her to take off her clothes? And how did Campbell Soup Company come to buy Godiva Chocolates?
But the strangest case of all is Theodor Geisel who wrote "The Seven Lady Godivas.” Geisel wanted to set the record straight about what actually happened in ancient Coventry. There was not just one Lady Godiva, but seven sisters and of course seven “Peeping Toms.” Geisel’s full name was Theodor Seuss Geisel—Dr. Seuss. For a while he managed an advertising campaign for Standard Oil.
Back to the basics. Godiva did ride bareback and bare all over through the streets. And she got what she wanted. But what about today? Riding a horse probably won’t work. People do it every day. But riding naked through the streets might be another matter. But then again, people by the thousands have already been showing up in the streets naked to protest various causes. Even a group of elderly female gardeners got into the act (See Calendar Girls). Now what might work would be if our female US Senators took to the streets sans clothes. The men could all blindfold themselves. After all “Justice” is supposed to be blind. A few enterprising policemen would probably feel called upon to do their duty. After all permit or no permit, riding through the streets naked is a crime. Although highway robbery at the gas pumps is not. But a few naked grannies on horseback might just work. Just plan it for Mother’s Day! What type policemen would dare bust a naked granny? Especially on Mother’s Day!
Egon Settle of Arlington, Texas, has come up with a unique way to protest the high cost of gas--by riding Free Fallin', his horse, around town to run errands. He leaves the horse in the parking lot while minding his hair styling business. Reminds me of the time that I saw two people riding their horses along the shoulder of the highway, wearing t-shirts that said, “Keep on Trucking.”
But when was the last memorable time that someone rode a horse to protest a serious drain on his or her pocketbook? First, let’s scratch off our list a whole group of people: Jesse James, Butch Cassidy, Black Bart and similar types. After all when it was all said and done they were actually filling their wallets with the assistance of their horses. In my memory I can’t think of a single one. Although I can recall motorcades of Harleys, 18-wheelers and tractors used in protest. Nope! We have to go back to our history books. Way back to the 11th century. Way back to a different continent. To a time when there knights everywhere. Way back to Coventry, England. Leofric III, Earl of Mercia and Lord of Coventry, had imposed extremely high taxes on his subjects. His wife protested on behalf of the people. The Earl was subjected to incessant appeals. In desperation he finally told his wife he would lower the taxes if, and only if, she would ride naked through the streets of Coventry. To his amazement, Lady Godiva shed her clothes, mounted her horse and took off. Only one person looked. He was given the nickname “Peeping Tom.” Now a promise is a promise even in the Middle Ages, so Leofric lowered taxes.
But the matter did not end there. On May 31, 1678, the people of Coventry decided it was high time to commemorate the event with an annual Godiva procession. Eventually engineers got into the act. They adopted Lady Godiva as their patron saint. They explained that back in the 11th century an engineer was the only person even to notice the horse. Somewhere along the way the Godiva Chocolate company was born. Don’t know what it all means, but one might need to think twice before giving a female friend a box of Godiva chocolates. Is that just a civilized way of double dog daring her to take off her clothes? And how did Campbell Soup Company come to buy Godiva Chocolates?
But the strangest case of all is Theodor Geisel who wrote "The Seven Lady Godivas.” Geisel wanted to set the record straight about what actually happened in ancient Coventry. There was not just one Lady Godiva, but seven sisters and of course seven “Peeping Toms.” Geisel’s full name was Theodor Seuss Geisel—Dr. Seuss. For a while he managed an advertising campaign for Standard Oil.
Back to the basics. Godiva did ride bareback and bare all over through the streets. And she got what she wanted. But what about today? Riding a horse probably won’t work. People do it every day. But riding naked through the streets might be another matter. But then again, people by the thousands have already been showing up in the streets naked to protest various causes. Even a group of elderly female gardeners got into the act (See Calendar Girls). Now what might work would be if our female US Senators took to the streets sans clothes. The men could all blindfold themselves. After all “Justice” is supposed to be blind. A few enterprising policemen would probably feel called upon to do their duty. After all permit or no permit, riding through the streets naked is a crime. Although highway robbery at the gas pumps is not. But a few naked grannies on horseback might just work. Just plan it for Mother’s Day! What type policemen would dare bust a naked granny? Especially on Mother’s Day!
