Today Joe called a special meeting. I've been at the office since 6A.M.! I half enjoy His moments of intense brainstorming and I half hate Him for making us come in to work so early. Apparently Joe has been an ancient world kick - first with the movie 300 and then He watched Rome last night. Inspired by the communication style of these great civilizations, Joe has decided that He should be the Town Crier for Rogers Park. This position will most directly put Him in contact with the people. And it counteracts Skeletor's "beat alderman" approach.
He wants Rogers Park to see Him as the harbinger of good news, wealth and prosperity. By wearing a toga and mimicking the hand movements in the Honourable Art of the Town Crier, Joe will set a new example of how our government representative can inform His constituency.
Here is a little historical information on the position:
The first town criers were the Spartan Runners in the early Greek Empire and as the Roman Conquest spread through Europe the position increased in importance until it became a position of the Court.
The official job of Town Crier can be traced back as far as 1066, when news of Britain's first (and last) invasion by King William of Normandy was passed from town to town by individuals specifically employed to call out the King's proclamation. Town criers were protected by law. "Don't shoot the messenger" was a very real command; anything that was done to a town crier was deemed to be done to the King and was therefore a treasonable offense. This followed in the military tradition of the time, where musicians, who were educated and respected carriers of messages and "parlees" across the battlefield lines, were "of" the military not "part of" the military.
Joe feels that now He can say what He wants because no one will shoot the Messenger. It's as if He were the King of Rogers Park. Historically this is accurate and a great basis for Joe's decision.
Now to wait for the fabric shop to open so I can go make His toga. I wonder how many yards of material to get? Lots.
