posted
So tonight it's four hundred years since Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
Since my (current) hometown, York, is where Guy, or Guido Fawkes was born, we're supposed to be having a great big, FREE, firework display tonight. *Does happy dance*
However, last night, at an event for international students, something quite bizarre and worrying struck me. The guy who was giving a talk explaining Fawkes and the conspiracy to the international students was very loathe to describe him as a terrorist.
Despite the fact that he was trying to blow up innocent people, we have made Guy into a cute, child friendly figure, an underdog people tend to feel a bit sorry for. And tonight, his hometown is celebrating him. Okay, so he didn't succeed, but, if things had turned out differently, he would have been a mass murderer.
So what's the difference between Fawkes and the men who attempted to blow up the London Underground for the second time on 21st July?
Four hundred years, campfire songs, roasting marshmallows and some pretty lights in the sky. Very weird.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, it always struck me that Bonfire Night was celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes didn't blow up the parliament- that he failed. Hence the burning Guy on a bonfire thing.
I miss Bonfire Night. *sniff*
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I don't think so, actually - Guy, after all, was on the losing side. Granted, most people in Britain today probably could care less about the Protestant Succession, but still.
I think it's more the British thing about underdogs. When you think about it, the Bonnie Prince wasn't exactly a very nice guy, and he was allied to the French at that. He still manages to turn up on everything from radio stations to cookie boxes. King over the water, eh?
Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I was going to burn an effigy tonight with my friend, but he is nowhere to be found... oh well! This night is the reason that someday I want to live in England... and I am totally serious.
Posts: 3636 | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Um....Isn't the whole point of Guy Fawkes Day that you burn Guy Fawkes in effigy? That's not exactly celebrating the guy as a hero.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Bella Bee, how were the fireworks? I also live in York but was away for the weekend so missed them.
I love bonfire night, just when the nights are drawing in we get an excuse to make a big bonfire, mull some wine and watch fireworks.
Posts: 169 | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Party]](graemlins/party.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
