Strikes & Banning
Hey troublemakers, it's been a hot moment, but we're back.
A little older, a little wiser, and with a lot more knowledge of what living through history feels like. For the ones who might listen to this a century from now, living through history is a humbling experience. The nostalgia about it is a lot more romanticized than the day to day hurdles and challenges.
Now, today I just want to bring up a topical moment that I really don’t know how this will play out in the next 5, 10, or 50 years.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike and picketing the major studios and streamers that are part of the Association of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) over fair wages, fair contracts, the use of Artificial intelligence, and staffing. It’s been over 2 months that the writers have been on the picket line and I truly hope that a deal can be reached that not only improves the overall conditions for those that create the words for our favorite movies and series but that the equity of these words translates to all creatives in the entertainment industry.
Some on social media say to help support the writers with this breakdown in talks with the studios that banning and cancelling their subscriptions is a proactive measure. I have to disagree, banning and boycotting does not work.
History and time is a funny thing. If you look to the past you can see the patterns of how humanity plays things out and if you’re wise, you use the lessons of history to help shape the present and how to operate in the future.
Things that we take for granted today were not just taboo but controlling and had some life and death concequences in the past. Like one of my favorite things…coffee.
In today's world, coffee has become the cherished beverage (sorry tea and tequila drinkers). A dark and delightful elixir savored by adults worldwide on a daily basis. However, this wasn't always the case. Throughout history, there have been numerous attempts to prohibit the consumption of coffee. Here are five notable instances of such bans:
Mecca and Islam
In 1511, Khair Beg, the Governor of Mecca, instated a ban on coffee, considering it a perilous drug that fueled radical thinking among the city's inhabitants. He likened coffee to the forbidden intoxicant, wine, as proscribed in the Koran. Beg's forces seized coffee from vendors and set their stocks ablaze in the streets. Thankfully, wiser minds prevailed, and the councilors to the Sultan of Egypt overturned the prohibition, restoring the free flow of coffee in the bustling streets of Mecca.
Catholicism
The 16th century witnessed the introduction of coffee to adoring masses in Europe. Some members of the clergy within the Catholic Church feared that this bewitchingly delightful drink would corrupt their congregations. They branded it as Satanic and advocated for its prohibition by the Church. Fortunately, Pope Clement VIII, after sampling coffee, determined it to be a far cry from anything diabolical; instead, he found it simply delicious. In fact, he jokingly remarked that it was so good that it should be baptized. With the Pope's blessing, coffee houses sprang up across Europe.
The Ottoman Empire
Throughout its reign, the Ottoman Empire maintained a complex relationship with coffee. The beverage, known for its delectable taste and uplifting effect on mood, was perceived as a drug and treated with suspicion. It faced several bans, including one decreed by the esteemed ruler, Suleiman the Magnificent. Yet, these prohibitions were largely disregarded by both coffee drinkers and sellers within the Empire. Even when Murad IV, ruler of the Ottoman Empire, issued orders from Constantinople stating that individuals caught buying or selling coffee should be beaten on their first offense and tossed into the sea in a leather bag on their second, coffee shops continued to flourish throughout the Mediterranean.
Sweden
By the 1700s, coffee had found its way to Sweden. Seeing an opportunity for financial gain, the King of Sweden imposed a hefty tax on coffee imports, but it went largely unpaid. Frustrated by the widespread evasion, he outlawed the sale of coffee in the country and even confiscated cups and dishes during arrests. This gave rise to a thriving black market, with people smuggling coffee into the nation. In an effort to showcase the dangers of coffee to his citizens, King Gustave ordered a death row prisoner to consume three pots of coffee each day while a physician observed his eventual demise. Astonishingly, the prisoner, condemned to death by coffee, outlived his overseeing physician by several years.
Prussia
Frederick the Great of Prussia became aware that beer consumption was dwindling in his homeland. He attributed this decline to the rising popularity of coffee, as he observed his countrymen starting their days with a warm cup of coffee instead of a cold, hearty glass of lager. He issued an official manifesto, proclaiming the superiority of beer over coffee and assigned spies to monitor coffee sales in the nation. However, even Frederick the Great couldn't resist the allure of coffee. In his later years, he was known to consume six to eight cups every morning.
Today, coffee stands as the second most traded commodity worldwide. Americans alone consume over 400 million cups of coffee daily to kickstart their mornings and fuel their productivity. If you possess a rebellious spirit and wish to defy historical bans by incorporating coffee into your morning routine, rest assured that history has your back.
We’ve got swag!
Check out the store for your very own TROUBLEMAKER hats, T-shirts, and stickers.
Like the episode, give it a thumbs up, 5 stars, or whatever the highest liking position your podcast play does.
Have a short question, reach out to me at @michaeltroubleburgess on Instagram
For longer questions, email troublemakersmtb@gmail.com
For tips and my favorite coffee setups, check out my recommendations page here.
https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/7HmK9M1W5Ab
