Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...
Anyone who's explored a website, seen The Avengers episode entitled November 5, read, or watched V for Vendetta (which I highly recommend) knows what I'm talking about. It was 1603 and Queen Elizabeth I had just passed away. She had persecuted Catholics and her heir, James I, continued the tradition. So, a group of 13 men under Robert Catesby planned to blow away the House of Parliament--literally. Word of their plot reached the ears of the authorities.
On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes, the conspirator in the basement with the gunpowder, was put to death. Bonfires were lit that very night "to celebrate the safety of the King." Every year from then on, Guy Fawkes effigies were lit on fire and fireworks were put on display. One can't help but wonder who the English are commemorating--the King or the Guy. After all, the celebration is not only called Bonfire Night but Guy Fawkes Night.
Gunpowder, treason and plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...
Anyone who's explored a website, seen The Avengers episode entitled November 5, read, or watched V for Vendetta (which I highly recommend) knows what I'm talking about. It was 1603 and Queen Elizabeth I had just passed away. She had persecuted Catholics and her heir, James I, continued the tradition. So, a group of 13 men under Robert Catesby planned to blow away the House of Parliament--literally. Word of their plot reached the ears of the authorities.
On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes, the conspirator in the basement with the gunpowder, was put to death. Bonfires were lit that very night "to celebrate the safety of the King." Every year from then on, Guy Fawkes effigies were lit on fire and fireworks were put on display. One can't help but wonder who the English are commemorating--the King or the Guy. After all, the celebration is not only called Bonfire Night but Guy Fawkes Night.
Remember, remember: One man's terrorist is another man's hero.
4 comments:
I've asked my friend Ken, who's currently living in England, to explain Guy Fawkes day to all of us.
By the way, I love how you renamed your comments "possibilities." Very creative.
Actually, I think the explanation contained here is about the best I've heard -- sad, really, since everyone I've asked is British and they don't really seem to know! (And many of them living in this flat are *journalism* students!)
About the only thing I can add is that now, every Nov. 5, people buy fireworks and firecrackers in very large quantities -- the ones they haven't used up in the week-long Diwali explode-a-thons, that is -- and make the rest of us very, very nervous. (Will post some photos Y video of Guy Fawkes Day on my blog as soon as I am able... lots o' papers & exams this week.)
I love that movie, and I couldn't help thinking of our government when I was watching it. I'm going to read up on that Guy Fawkes Day :)
Technology truly has become completely integrated to our existence, and I am 99% certain that we have passed the point of no return in our relationship with technology.
I don't mean this in a bad way, of course! Societal concerns aside... I just hope that as technology further innovates, the possibility of uploading our brains onto a digital medium becomes a true reality. It's one of the things I really wish I could experience in my lifetime.
(Posted on Nintendo DS running [url=http://kwstar88.insanejournal.com/397.html]R4[/url] DS FFV2)
Post a Comment