The fifth of November,
the gunpowder, treason, and plot,
I know of no reason
why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot…
The plot of Guy Fawkes is a good reminder that dissent may truly be the most ambitious, yet patriotic form of patriotism (which is paraphrasing the often thought to be Thomas Jefferson, but it actually wasn’t (?), quote). I believe, now more than ever, that it is imperative, given the circumstances of this country, this world, this existence, that we stand up and question what is being done. Things are out of control, and we can’t look the other way any longer.
We can’t let there be a time when recalling the events of this day include a time when no one stood up when they came for the others, and then, inevitably they finally came for us, and no one was left to stand up for us. All accounts of the events in the news indicate that in more ways than one, things are going from bad to worse, and I can’t help but think, “does it have to happen?”. Do we have to just follow? Why aren’t our representatives doing something about this? How bad does it have to get before we make it stop?
Remembering the bravery that it takes to stand up to the government isn’t enough, but it seems that it is all that there is right now. I hope that changes soon. I hope that our words and our actions can bring some accountability to where there is none. I hope that our pressure on our government can shed light on the theft that is occurring right before our eyes. I hope that we won’t be the ones that suffer for the blood money that those at the top are raking in.
This really makes me think; where is V when you need him? I think that I will be watching V for Vendetta tonight… and hoping for some bravery to stand against our ever-increasingly-oppressive government. Want more? Check out this remembering article.
I have to say that once again I agree with your post! It does seem that our country and world are getting progressively worse. I only wish I knew an answer to help correct things. I do hope that voters are very diligent this time and collect information rather than just going to the poles and voting. Maybe we should all write in “none of the above” on our ballots!! I am not sure how the government would handle an election where all ballots had “none of the above” written in, but it would make one hell of a statement!!
Hope is not a strategy.
Maybe you should do something more than just go watch a movie.
… even though I do love Natalie Portman in that cute little girl get-up she wears. Mmm…
Are you advocating insurrection against this administration specifically, or just that Duane should be more resolute in general.
Inquiring bloggers want to know.
I just really love that quote. My real point was that if duane really felt everything was going to hell, he should do more than just watch a movie and hope it all turns out peachy.
Dave, I am not advocating “just watching a movie and hope it all turns out peachy”; it is going to take more than just me speaking up for things to change. I am ready and willing to mobilize.
Cool, I look forward to reading here what you’ve done to “mobilize.”
One of the first steps has to be realizing that there are problems and he has done that. Some people apparently do not think there are problems.
In case there’s any confusion, the real Guy Fawkes was a terrorist inspired by his religious beliefs (sound familiar). I’m certain you’re not advocating violence, but the parallel here is tricky, since Fawkes was conspiring against a monoarchy that imposed its religion on the masses. Bush is a disaster, but we’ll be rid of him in a year, and last I checked no one’s been forced to become a Methodist. The system will work. It’s been tampered with, but to inimate that we are governed by fascists is a bit much. Besides, violence is never the answer (Gandhi and MLK inspired real revolution; Muslim fanatics inspire nothing but fear and loathing). Right truly does make might. Blowing shit up does not.
atlmalcontent, exactly right… it is what he became to symbolize that matters most; question authority, and do so peacefully. Violence only begets more violence.
I always find it funny that we dang foreigners celebrate what is now essentially a terr’rrist.
It’d be like America celebrating John Wilkes Booth day or something of that ilk
Nicely put atlmalcontent. I was by no means advocating violence and am so glad that we will be rid of Shrub in a year or so. Whoever is elected is going to have a HUGE mess to clean up thanks to the idiot and his “followers”…