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“Lady Godiva”
Well folks, here we are at the time of the year when partisan politics begins to heat up in anticipation of the next election. I’ve been thinking about the origins of modern political partisanship and about how little politics has changed through the years. Consider this.
Real partisan politics started in 1057 A. D. in Coventry, England when Lady Godiva, wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, made her famous protest against high taxes by riding naked through the town. Here’s what happened. Godiva and Leofric, being devoutly religious people, and having become affluent because of their success in the mutton business, decided to build a monastery for the training of clergy to care for souls. It was a simple structure, built from wattle and daub with a thatched roof. Still it was the most prominent building in town. One thing led to another and Leofric, philanthropic gentleman that he was becoming, began to take a growing role in the public affairs of the town. Before long he was given responsibility for the financial needs of the community. As the public projects multiplied, the need for more tax revenue grew and Leofric levied taxes left and right. It got to the point he even taxed manure!
Lady G. nagged him so much about taxes he finally told her he would cut them if she would ride a horse naked through town in the bright light of day. So, undoubtedly to his great surprise, she did it! There she went, right through town in broad daylight. The people lined the streets as she passed by. On one side the onlookers watched with understandable curiosity. However, she was riding side-saddle as any proper lady would. So the people watching from the other side of the street were cheering wildly and shouting, “Hooray for our side!” This is how partisanship began.
Of course, taxes continue to be a point of debate in partisan politics. I’m glad the Republicans have resisted demonstrating their devotion to lower taxes by shucking off their clothes and riding through town stark “nekkid.” On the other hand, even the most partisan Republican has to admit the Democrats haven't tried to tax manure.
I’m registered as an independent voter. This enables me to have good friends in both of our major parties. And, of course, this allows me grumble and complain about both parties whenever I wish. This helps me maintain a measure of dispassionate objectivity when the debate and rivalry gets especially heated. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m in favor of party politics. But there are some vocations including my own in which it is helpful to the larger cause if a preacher keeps out of the campaign fray. I was once the pastor to both the chair of the county Republican Party and also the chair of the county Democrats. Part of my job was to encourage them both in their willingness to give political leadership. My other job was to remind them that both Democrats and Republicans are sinners. I have noticed that when religion and politics get mixed in together, the politically partisan tail often begins to wag the theological dog.
I don’t want to be the religious counterpart to the judge who presided over the famous cannibalism trial of J. W. Packer who in 1873 got caught in a Colorado blizzard and wound up eating some of his buddies. The judge betrayed his partisan feelings when he leaned over the bench and sternly rebuked Mr. Packer: “Packer, you depraved Republican son-of-a-so-and-so! They wuz only 5 Democrats in Hinsdale County and you et all 5 of them!”
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