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Blogger: Vincent L. Mach Thursday, November 5, 2009 @ 11:33 am SUBJECT: Guy Fawkes DayRemember, remember the fifth of November, The gunpowder treason and plot, I know of no reason Why the gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.
This verse, made popular by the film V for Vendetta, actually originated in England after Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the houses of Parliament in 1605 (I was quite pleased to find out the writers of the movie did not make up the phrase). For those who do not know about this infamous day I will quote a brief history from Allison Kilkenny who writes for the Huffington Post.
"On November 5, 1605, England held a celebration for the opening of Parliament. Guy Fawkes tried to spark a revolution by blowing up the building, and the royal family inside, in protest over the Protestant leadership's treatment of Catholics, which included torture and hangings.
Unfortunately for Fawkes, he was nabbed before he blew up anything, tortured, and -- before he could be publicly executed -- lept from the gallows and broke his neck.
Afterwards, Londoners were encouraged to mock Fawkes -- probably because the thought of a lone loon getting that close to assassinating the entire royal family spooked the hell out of the oligarchy."
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allison-kilkenny/guy-fawkes-protesters-fin_b_346720.html&cp
As history shows, Fawkes had his own noble reasons for attempting to blow up Parliament with the royal family inside of it. Contemporarily, however, Fawkes has become a symbol for those who believe, as best stated by the character V in V for Vendetta, that "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
On this 5th of November I encourage everyone to look at his or her own involvement in government. I hear far too often that people feel that their votes do not count in elections or that they do no even follow politics, much less know how our government is run. I am not saying that one should take the extreme end and try to blow up a government building. When you feel, however, that your politicians are not representing your beliefs or wishes, become educated on the issue and write a letter to your local congressman. Or if you feel that there is an issue that you would like to see addressed by our government, start a group that advocates for the issue so that you have more people to rally behind your cause.
I don't believe that Guy Fawkes is great because he attempted to assassinate a monarchy. I believe he is great because he represents the power one person can have when dissatisfied with how his or her government is run. Unfortunately, at the time he really felt that he had nothing but an extreme option. We, however, have many more options thanks to our great democracy. Let us all remember the 5th of November and use our power as citizens, after properly researching the particulars of an issue, to affect the change we want to see in our government. User Profile - Subscribe to this Blog - Share on Facebook - Add a Comment - 834 Hits COMMENTSThursday, November 5, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
Politics is corrupt to the core in this country, and internationally. Guy Fawkes would simply be written off as a domestic terrorist, and portrayed as a villain in today's society. It would be a media feeding frenzy. Your best line of defense is to see things for what they actually are, and come up with a solution to fix the problem. Oligarchies still exist, you need only look to the corporations and multinational conglomerates. If you really want true change, you need to reevaluate the very foundation through which society has stood. We need to come up with a better method of exchange in commerce. The problem is money and our attachment to it; politics, is a mere circus. Thursday, November 5, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
I think your post was good but it failed to mention the revival of "Remember, remember the fifth of November" during Ron Paul's campaign. It is still being used by liberty minded candidates who are following in Ron Paul's foot steps in trying to get our government back to what the founding fathers intended. A new video for liberty minded youth is up at: http://www.dailypaul.com/node/113415 Rhonda --- "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." - John F. Kennedy Thursday, November 5, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
I greatly enjoyed reading this- apathy towards politics will not solve any of the problems that we face as a people. If we do not like the system, then we need to abolish it or demand it changed. To go back to an imaginary time in the past where our government and founding fathers were advocates of 'democracy' goes against the evidence: When considering how our government was created to function in the historical context of the Revolution, that would be an attempt to go back to a golden age that never existed. If we want to see participatory democracy, we must demand it as a new governmental system that would be new to the united states. To vote, if nothing else, can serve as a way to symbolically show that you believe your desires matter in politics... there is no reason not to vote. By showing up at the polls we can create the feeling in the social climate that the people believe in voting, will not be disheartened by the cable clowns and sideshow representatives, and that we will not step down or voluntarily surrender our right to do so. Thursday, November 5, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
Gor-Gor. If you choose not to vote, then do so for purpose - not for lack of purpose. If you choose to vote, then know that your vote is part of a groundswell of energy that has the potential to effect change. Even if it does not effect the purpose which you vote for or against, it is a measurement of opinion and will be accounted for by all parties in their subsequent actions. Also know that while it may seem that your solitary voice may not carry much weight in a national election, it carries tremendous weight at the local level, which by the way, affects your life in a more direct, meaningful and relevant fashion than a national election can. It would do you and all of us more good if you reconsider your perspective. Thursday, November 5, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
I am excited to see so many responses! Gor-gor, I am sorry that you feel that way. I would say look to Juliette and Dave's comments, they both have really good points and arguments against political apathy. Know that I agree with them that apathy will no change anything. Aside from voting, there are many different ways to affect the way your representative handles issues. Writing letters, or as I suggested, forming a group around the issue you want to see affected can make a huge difference in how politicians approach it. Taking an apathetic stance is just surrendering to the corrupt system that you don't like. I am not ready to let them win that easily Eric, Guy Fawkes was portrayed that way back in 1605. Look how we remember him now. Once again, standing up and making your voice heard is a great step towards changing a system. Rhonda, Juliette, once again, has the answer. The founding fathers originally intended our government to be run by those with money and land. As she said, we need to advocate for a new system, not revert to a non-existent golden age. And I had no idea that Ron Paul used that verse in his campaign! I think that is a rather clever way to reinforce his ideals. Juliette and Dave, thank you for understanding where I am coming from. Juliette thank you for advocating action and knowledge rather than apathy and ignorance, and Dave, thank you for pointing out the distinction for local government especially. I encourage everyone to try to affect the change we wish to see in the world, no matter how small it is. Thursday, November 5, 2009 @ 9:53 pm
I'm not apathetic, I just think the current system isn't sustainable without a serious reevaluation of how society as a whole works. I'm more than happy, willing, and registered to vote, however I need someone who is worth my vote before I cast one. I do recall this time last year donating $50 to Ron Paul's campaign, so please don't misunderstand my strong words as an apathetic political philosophy. I just simply disagree with the problems we face being solely political. It's a much more complex and interrelated problem, and it goes beyond just America. I'm taking a very broad view here, and postulating that the problems lie within collective consciousness. Ignorance, apathy, emotional attachment to money, etc. They plague humanity, not just Americans. Sunday, November 8, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead US Anthropologist |
Thursday, November 5, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
Posted by Gor-gor
I have to agree with the majority of people in that our votes are useless. Hypothetically, let’s say there was a corrupt official who held office, but only corrupt in the eyes of educated Americans. I, being an educated American, realize what I am up against: A majority of uneducated people voting for that same fraudulent dick on the basis that this person would actually carry out their sugar-coated promises and proposals, or voting for that person just because their family and friends wish it so. As history has shown, people continue to vote for these people without even trying to understand whether that person is a trustworthy official to elect. They look at what that official says publically, how his appearance fares, their age, and what political party they are affiliated with. We lend no eye on their past credentials, their history in politics, or their real objectives shrouded by the thick cloud of lies that they usually spurt. So in reality by me voting my opinion is like throwing a pebble at a brick wall; it doesn’t do jack shit. That’s just my opinion though…one opinion out of the millions of people in this country.