Oregon Public Broadcasting

This year's campaign season may feel dynamic and new, but history shows us many examples of humanity's need for self-determination.

Steve Black:  "What would you look for in a good captain? Well a captain has got qualifications for navigations so to speak. Ye don't want to be out on the ocean going in circles, says I."

Even pirate captains were subject, from time to time, to elections. Historians note men who sailed under the Jolly Roger had often served in the Royal or Merchant Navies, chafing under its bone-crunching discipline.

We know from pirate articles that captains were frequently chosen from among their fellows.  Presumably, that would have meant on-deck campaigning.

We asked a couple of Oregon salty dogs to imagine what that might have sounded like.

Steve Black:  "Yes indeed, I know my east and my west, and my north and me south, says I. I can operate a sextant, and have other navigational skills that have been taught to me."

Captain Zacharia "Splinter" McCormack. His platform also hints at knowledge of certain cargoes passing by, which might be advantageous.

If the experience ticket doesn't do it for you, Quartermaster Luc the Lucky offers a new paradigm for today's plunder.

Shuhe Hawkins: "Well, it is in my mind the most important thing we can do it take into account that every day's a new day. Ye never knows what  the tides is gonna bring ya. Or where the winds is gonna blow ya. As long as yer prepared to make those changes as ye must from day to day, and are prepared to adjust your course as necessary that is indeed in the best interest of the crew."

Luc offered his assurances that when the cannonball comes through the wall of the ship at 3AM, he will be ready to meet it.

Luc and Splinter are the alter egos of Shuhe Hawkins and Steve Black. Actors and re-enactors with the Boom Pirate crew, gearing up for a big weekend at the Portland Pirate Festival.

You can catch them this Saturday and Sunday in St John's' Cathedral Park in Portland.

Online:

http://www.portlandpiratefestival.com/

http://www.boompirates.com/