It’s fun to be a pirate. Then there’s the rest of us.
To my knowledge, no one has ever explained why we’re expected to celebrate the invasion of Tampa. In 1904, Tampa’s city fathers and captains of industry were in an expansive mood. The Florida State Fair had moved to Tampa that year. Tampa’s good-ol'-boy network wanted to throw an annual party in honor of the fair while glorifying Tampa and their own dubious achievements. Obviously, someone was inspired by Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but wanted to avoid the Catholic part.
Anyone familiar with the history of Tampa will tell you that the city’s story is riddled with its share of seedy, incorrigible characters: corrupt politicians, laughable law enforcement, rapacious businessmen and gangsters. In some cities, the mayor is allowed the small pleasure of giving away the key to the city as a gesture of friendship and appreciation. In Tampa, the elite demand it at gunpoint as a symbol of submission.
This article appears in Jan 20-26, 2011.