History Thing 003 - Common Reluctance
If you follow the politics of a Commonwealth country (and I can understand why you wouldn't, even living in one), you might be aware of a strange tradition that involves dragging the Speaker of the House of Commons (otherwise known as the House of Representatives in the land of Oz) to their chair when they're elected (which happens at the beginning of each parliamentary term). Video here, for those who may not believe me that this is a thing.
But why the hell are we dragging a grown person to a chair that is a pretty good place to sit, figuratively speaking? Because it wasn't always a good job to get.
Historically, the Speaker was the person charged with communicating the thoughts of Parliament to the monarch. Which doesn't sound so bad, until we get to the bit where Speakers were often bumped off the mortal coil if they had unpleasant things to report.
In fact, seven Speakers of the House were executed by beheading between 1394 and 1535.
Not, one assumes, that the tradition of executing Speakers continues, but the tradition of appearing to be reluctant about the job is alive and kicking.
But why the hell are we dragging a grown person to a chair that is a pretty good place to sit, figuratively speaking? Because it wasn't always a good job to get.
Historically, the Speaker was the person charged with communicating the thoughts of Parliament to the monarch. Which doesn't sound so bad, until we get to the bit where Speakers were often bumped off the mortal coil if they had unpleasant things to report.
In fact, seven Speakers of the House were executed by beheading between 1394 and 1535.
Not, one assumes, that the tradition of executing Speakers continues, but the tradition of appearing to be reluctant about the job is alive and kicking.