History in Living Colour - Friday, Period 3 (Week 8)

[veryarthurdent.livejournal.com]

"Listen closely," the Doctor said once everyone had gathered inside the Danger Shop that looked like a classroom, "because this could be the most important history lesson you'll ever learn. People make mistakes. People in power make even bigger mistakes. Sometimes they're small, insignificant, and sometimes they affect so many people you can't even count them all yourself. Sometimes the changes are for the better, but mostly you'll find that people's mistakes cost lives and livelihood. Hindsight is 20-20, and if you're good enough you can learn from the past, but even then you won't be able to expect some of the horrible things that people - not just humans - can do to each other.

To use an example from human history, let's look at the 16th century. To combat the rise of religious unorthodoxy, the Pope - that's the leader of the Roman Catholic Church - gave Cardinal Ximinez of Spain leave to move without let or hindrance throughout the land, in a reign of violence, terror and torture that made a smashing film and comedy sketch. The people of Europe didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition."

Three Cardinal-looking men in red outfits with silly hats burst into the room from a door off to the side. "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

The Doctor looked confused. "What?"

Comments

Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

After the Cardinal finally got on with it some time later, the Spanish Inquisition started accusing people of heresy, consorting with the devil and having very bad breath. Of course, the accusations were mostly unfounded for most people. That didn't seem to matter.

"How do you plead?" the Cardinal asked. Guilty or innocent, you were bound to get tortured with pillows, a dish draining rack or a comfy chair. They weren't terribly effective.

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[peace_n_war]

"Guilty," Warren said with a shrug. Why not, right? Might as well live this educational experience to the fullest.

... Or whatever.

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"HA! AHA! Ah- oh. Can he do that? I don't think you can just do that. We're supposed to torture a confession out of you!"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[peace_n_war]

Warren raised an eyebrow, a small smirk at the corners of his lips.

"I'm taking all the fun out of it, am I?"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"I should like the charges defined," Alice said, setting her chin defiantly. "On what grounds am I being charged with heresy? I have no consorted with the devil in any means, though I may or may not have terribly bad breath. My inclusion of onions with this morning's omelet is a civil matter, and not a criminal one. I request a lawyer."

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

Cardinal Fang stepped up with a scroll that had the charges printed quite clearly on it. Unfortunately, his Spanish accent was horrendous, squeaky, and barely intelligible in parts.

"Yew arr hereby charged that yew did on diverse dates commit heresy against the Holy Church," was what he read off in his strange voice. And then he started to sing and did a strange little dance in which his arms moved from side to side. "My old man said..."

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

"Is it heresy against the Holy Church if one thinks that perhaps you are mad?" Alice asked cheerfully.

She had nothing against mad people. She had frequently been one herself.

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"I don't know? What are the charges?"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

Cardinal Fang was getting to read the charges to lots of people!

"Yew arr also charged that yew did on diverse dates commit heresy against the Holy Church," Cardinal Fang viciously squeaked in his horrendous Spanish accent. "And also fer wearing the color red, which is an Inquisition color, on other diverse dates that may overlap the previous diverse dates."

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

"How do I plead to what?" Anemone asked, contemplating the odds of stealing one of those funny hats. "Do I get a prize if I guess right?"

It was possible that she didn't understand the idea of the Inquisition.

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"You are accused of heresy on three counts -- heresy by thought, heresy by word, heresy by deed, and heresy by action -- *four* counts. Do you confess?"

"Confess or I shall get the comfy PILLOWS!!!"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

"Like this." Robin said. He looked very cute and said; "Pleeease?"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"You... you..." Cardinal Biggles turned and whispered to the other Cardinals. "It's a frog, I think. What do I - ... You're certain? Oh, very well."

He turned back to Robin. "You are accused of heresy, being green, and unnatural cuteness in the face of the Spanish Inquisition! Confess!"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[techno-tosh.livejournal.com]

"I suppose it depends on what I am being charged with," Tosh simply replied.

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"Charged with? Charged with? Oh ho ho, my dear, you are charged with -" he broke off and turned to the others again. "What is she charged with again? Ah yes!"

"You are charged with heresy, of course, everyone is charged with heresy, of course, and you are charged with not knowing what you are charged with, which is a most SERIOUS charge! How do you plead?"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

"Innocent," Rodney declared with an inexplicable feeling of déjà vu. "Besides, I'm not even Catholic, so you have no jurisdiction over me," he smirked.

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"Aha!" Cardinal Biggles said, "But that is heresy! Confess! Confess or I will poke you with the comfy pillow!"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[futureclone]

"How do I plead to what?" Alex asked. "What are the charges?"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"Ah, hah ha hah! You are hereby charged that you did on diverse dates commit heresy against the Holy Church," Cardinal Biggles growled. "How do you plead?"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"I plead guilty to everything but bad breath," Inara stated.

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"You consort with the devil?" Cardinal Biggles said, looking startled. "Is it... fun? Does he make you promises and give you wonderful - Ahem! I mean, CONFESS!!"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[pyroliz.livejournal.com]

"What am I being charged with?" Liz asked curiously.

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"You are charged with heresy, consorting with the Devil and bad breath. Especially that last one!"

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[likethegun]

Sam stared a little, getting amused. "I plead guilty," he said, with his saddest look. "I'm a horrible person."

Re: Be Tortured. It's not as bad as it sounds.

[darkangelsawyer.livejournal.com]

"Ah hah!" Cardinal Biggles said, nearly pouncing on him. "You are charged with - wait. You confess? But, but... what about the 'no, I'm innocent', 'CONFESS', 'no, never', 'then here are the soft cushions, no CONFESS!!!'? I'm sorry, should I go out and come back in again?"