Sex, Religion, and Politics. Three taboos. Three ignitors of passion and, if one angles one's stance right, one sees that all wars are played out on these footings. Recently I attended the annual Medieval Market in Levin where my role was Sir Christopher Von Capo, Singing Cavalier, roving troubadour. It
was a good day. The colours were vibrant and the masses of public, happy. Shaved ice was order of the day. I came upon a melee of armour clad men at arms in full combat gear contesting victory using full contact force in an arena of steel. This was no surgical technological strike. This was face to face grunt, grind and blood. Fervent advance would be locked into entangled weapons and limbs until one party collapsed to earth. Fascinating. Remember (no pun intended) Basil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers hissing "Don't Mention The War!". There has always been controversy and a proverbial stink being raised amongst the babble of gossip and hearsay. If it isn't the politics of waste water treatment then it's the closure of churches and removal of freedom of worship by perceived bureaucratic oversight. Last year I attended St Luke's Anglican Church Patronal Festival in Castlecliff. St Luke's had been closed, but a patronal festival was permitted. St Luke's was packed. The music was lively. It was as if the headmaster had let the children out of detention early. The kicking up of heels and thumbing of noses at authority was palpable. When the Archdeacon presented his homily, about a young boy leaving the little church and going to the big church in the centre of town, I could feel inaudible incredulous raising of eyebrows around me. Last year the centralisation of the Anglican church in Wanganui was lost by one vote. Reactively, I understand, the debate and process continues. Are Politics, Religion and Sex worth fighting for? Yes, but only if that leads to freedom from repression, welcoming understanding, and expression of talents. It's hot stuff in armour, locked face to face with your opponent. Hence Marshalls clad in red and yellow arbitrate, and Troubadours tell tales.
