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| Casanova |
Throughout
history, many have been the objections of the powerful to the moral habits of
their subjects. And many the battles shamefully lost against sex, drugs, rock
& roll and eating-with-your-hands. Why? Well, because you never get there with
prohibitions and punishment! You gotta be a whole lot more subtle. This is how such
things are done:
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| Codpiece |
The chief subject of dispute at that time [in Spain 1767 - ABM] was
the fashion of wearing breeches. Those who wore 'braguettes' [codpieces - ABM] were
imprisoned, and all tailors making breeches with 'braguettes' were severely
punished. Nevertheless, people persisted in wearing them, and the priests and
monks preached in vain against the indecency of such a habit. A revolution
seemed imminent, but the matter was happily settled without effusion of blood.
An edict was published and affixed to the doors of all the churches, in which
it was declared that breeches with ‘braguettes’ were only to be worn by the
public hangmen. Then the fashion passed away; for no one cared to pass for the
public executioner.
[Casanova, Memoires, volume
6: Spain]
Whoever figured
that one out, ought to get a statue!
PS
Congratulations to the Portuguese for the anniversary of their Carnation Revolution!
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