NationStates Jolt Archive

Now, some of us will be able to blow things up...,however, others of us have laws that do not allow things to be blown up at this time of the year.

So how will you celebrate, or not celebrate Guy Fawkes Day...and what does it mean to you, if anything?

I'd celebrate/not celebrate/whatever by watching V for Vendetta, but I don't own it, so...*shrug*

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chqi8m4CEEY)

We watched V for Vendetta last night in my dorm (from 11:50 to 2:00ish so that the 5th of November lined up with the movie). It was excellent.

I shall celebrate by pretending I'm in a warzone.

I think this is about the only anti-Catholic (OK, maybe not any more) activity the whole of Glasgow can get involved in.

How many of us knew about Guy Fawkes Day before the movie...V for Vendetta?

I am one that did, know about it before the movie.

I shall celebrate by pretending I'm in a warzone.

Aren't we all in a war zone?

"I'm going to blow up Parliament"

is what I would say if I hadn't been working my tits off today:( (and had work at -1 o'clock n the morning)

How many of us knew about Guy Fawkes Day before the movie...V for Vendetta?

Not me.

Its ironic that by todays standards that Guy Fawkes would be classified as a 'terrorist', and yet we still celebrate him. Can you imagine people doing the same in hundreds of years time for Bin Laden? :D

Now, some of us will be able to blow things up...,however, others of us have laws that do not allow things to be blown up at this time of the year.


O that only makes it more fun getting them and blowing up. However, as I probably been a miltant Fawksist, I can't celebrate the foiling of what would have been a damn fine explosion.

I am watching V for Vendetta as I type this.

Its ironic that by todays standards that Guy Fawkes would be classified as a 'terrorist', and yet we still celebrate him. Can you imagine people doing the same in hundreds of years time for Bin Laden? :D

No..no...we don't celebrate him. We celebrate the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot. Fawkes was the most well known plotter (I guess), so his name stuck to the celebration. We celebrate his capture and eventually death.

It's also international Bad Religion day, so it's a double celebration.

so that's why someone drew a V on the college campus property

Its ironic that by todays standards that Guy Fawkes would be classified as a 'terrorist', and yet we still celebrate him. Can you imagine people doing the same in hundreds of years time for Bin Laden? :D

it is very ironic... but at the time he was seen as a person for freedom... same as bin laden, in his own country for few. But I think there is a definite difference.

No..no...we don't celebrate him. We celebrate the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot. Fawkes was the most well known plotter (I guess), so his name stuck to the celebration. We celebrate his capture and eventually death.

And his being "Guantanamoed" with the thumbscrews or whatever....

You know, the yanks would love this for a Bank holiday......

it is very ironic... but at the time he was seen as a person for freedom... same as bin laden, in his own country for few. But I think there is a definite difference.

Well, no, he wasn't. A few saw his as a "person for freedom", but the vast majority saw him as a traitor trying to kill their king and destroy Parliament. That's why his destruction is celebrated.

Can you imagine people doing the same in hundreds of years time for Bin Laden? :D

very easily. at that point, all the emotions of rabid nationalism that are currently running rampant will have died. he'll simply look like yet another rebel who stood up to an all-offending empire.

bah, i'm bored of fireworks.

Its ironic that by todays standards that Guy Fawkes would be classified as a 'terrorist', and yet we still celebrate him. Can you imagine people doing the same in hundreds of years time for Bin Laden? :D

The only man to ever enter Parliament with honest intentions.

*Blows up Parliament*

The only man to ever enter Parliament with honest intentions.

ha! good one.

ha! good one.

I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't recall where I heard it.

It's a fine line between being a revolutionary and a terrorist, especially when you are willing to use tactics including murder/assassination and torture, and are willing to destroy a social structure (like government) without plans to replace it...

V didn't (apparently) kill innocents (one has to be careful around explosives), but some still died indirectly due to his actions, and he didn't try to cause a general state of terror - the government had already done that. I think he has to be classed as a revolutionary (and vigilante). I love that movie...

Whoever was responsible for 11 September DID both kill innocents, and try to cause a general state of terror (and by what I can see of the US, succeeded - people who are fearful get more and more security conscious). That was terrorism.

Guy Fawkes was aiming at parliament. I doubt they were all as corrupt as the facist government of V for Vendetta, or any other nation that uses the threat of terrorism to justify stomping on it's civilians rights and liberties, but I haven't studied it. What do those in the know think?

Kimodo

The only man to ever enter Parliament with honest intentions.

Love it.

Guy fawkes was a terrorist, he got hung, draw and quartered for high treason. We don't celebrate him we celebrate him getting caught and him NOT blowing up the houses of parliament. The reason we celebrate this is because if the gunpowder plot had worked the UK would have been completely different, without a parliament and probably would not be as powerful as it is today.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up King and Parliament.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.

By posting in this thread I show my acknowledgment of said holiday.

I'm planning on watching V for Vendetta with a friend of mine later on tonight. I'd be reading from the graphic novel, too, but I forgot it at my parents' place last time I visited when I was on break. =\

Considering that the next 100 years saw the enforcment of the Penal laws, the 1641 rebellion and the Cromwellian plantation, ultimately leading to the disposession of about 90% of the populace, I've always taken the view that it was bad luck he missed the bastards....Of course they might have been replaced by worse, but its hard to see how, given the Cromwell factor...

Considering that the next 100 years saw the enforcment of the Penal laws, the 1641 rebellion and the Cromwellian plantation, ultimately leading to the disposession of about 90% of the populace, I've always taken the view that it was bad luck he missed the bastards....Of course they might have been replaced by worse, but its hard to see how, given the Cromwell factor...

Well, I think had the plotters succeeded, there would have been an English Civil War much sooner. The whole idea of the plot was to bring in Catholicism through having a child ruler (nine-year old Princess Elizabeth was not supposed to be in Parliament that day, and neither was five-year old Prince Charles), and have a Catholic rebellion throughout England. The problem would have been how much of the population would have backed the plotters? Given the nature of England at the time, I highly doubt much of the population would have supported them and you could very well have ended up with a more Protestant nation afterward similar to the Commonwealth.

Well, I think had the plotters succeeded, there would have been an English Civil War much sooner. The whole idea of the plot was to bring in Catholicism through having a child ruler (nine-year old Princess Elizabeth was not supposed to be in Parliament that day, and neither was five-year old Prince Charles), and have a Catholic rebellion throughout England. The problem would have been how much of the population would have backed the plotters? Given the nature of England at the time, I highly doubt much of the population would have supported them and you could very well have ended up with a more Protestant nation afterward similar to the Commonwealth.

O indeedy. Its speculation of the worst and most base kind on my part. However even us cynics need a dash of wishful thinking now and again.

It shows how much we care about the gunpowder plot/execute of Fawkes that many today refer to 5 Nov as simply 'Fireworks Night' or 'Bonfire Night' and don't bother with a reason to celebrate, they just celebrate for its own sake.

It shows how much we care about the gunpowder plot/execute of Fawkes that many today refer to 5 Nov as simply 'Fireworks Night' or 'Bonfire Night' and don't bother with a reason to celebrate, they just celebrate for its own sake.

Indeed. Celebrating the prevention of a gunpowder plot....with as much gunpowder as possible.

I set off fireworks!

*Raises glass*

To Guy Fawkes, and the quest for an end to Catholic Oppression in Britain.
Though dead, his cause has progressed and come to fruition.

*Raises glass*

To Guy Fawkes, and the quest for an end to Catholic Oppression in Britain.
Though dead, his cause has progressed and come to fruition.

Uh, he was Catholic, he was planning to kill everyone to bring back the Catholic Church.

Uh, he was Catholic, he was planning to kill everyone to bring back the Catholic Church.

Read it again; I think he got it.

*Raises glass*

To Guy Fawkes, and the quest for an end to Catholic Oppression in Britain.
Though dead, his cause has progressed and come to fruition.

Replacing it with Protestant oppression wasn't much better, however. Discrimination=bad.

Across the pond here, few have any idea what it is. I wanted to have a bonfire somewhere, but no one would help. So, I'll just watch V for Vendetta later.

The reason we celebrate this is because if the gunpowder plot had worked the UK would have been completely different, without a parliament and probably would not be as powerful as it is today.


Wow. If we were any less powerful, the massive power-vacuum would cause us to implode.

V for Vendetta was weird in its praise of Guy Fawkes. He wasn't fighting against an oppressive, quasi-theocracy/dictatorship so much as try to replace it with a different oppressive, quasi-theocracy/dictatorship. Bad history, coupled with only a so-so movie.

I am going to celebrate Guy Fawkes day by surfing for hot pics of Natalie Portman.

It is frankly... disturbing how many mentions there are to the film V for Vendetta in this thread. It's like half the people are like :
"Guy Fawkes? Ah yeah, I remember that movie."
Somewhat... infuriating.

Never heard of the day until I moved to the UK years ago. Had a Brit for a gf and she took me to a party for Guy Fawkes day. She said people celebrate in a unique British way. So we get there and there is a big blazing bonfire with a bunch of people drinking beer. I'm thinking hey this is a kegger just like in school except I hadn't been to one in years at that time. Was a lot of fun and I applaud any holiday where things are set on fire while drinking beer. How can you go wrong with that?

I am going to celebrate Guy Fawkes day by surfing for hot pics of Natalie Portman.

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/54/039_16030~Natalie-Portman-Posters.jpg

Gotta love a girl with a gun. :p

Now, some of us will be able to blow things up...,however, others of us have laws that do not allow things to be blown up at this time of the year.

So how will you celebrate, or not celebrate Guy Fawkes Day...and what does it mean to you, if anything?

I don't celebrate, as I'm a Yank.

Can you imagine people doing the same in hundreds of years time for Bin Laden? :D

It's my theory that Jesus was a terrorist against the Roman Empire and that, in 1, 791 years, the United States of Islam will be founded on the good principles of Ladenism.

The truth is that we're all part of a kind of long-running soap opera, a highly ironic one at that, created by the godly equivalent of Jon Stewart - and he puts on this show for all his godly mates, and they laugh at us.

I'm right as well, you'll see.

As I'm an Americanista, I like celebrating acts of terrorism that are more close to home. But the best I've got is the Boston tea party:(

V for Vendetta (the film, that is) made the whole thing look much better than it actually was. The book, well, that was indescribably better than the film was, as V was actually insane, for a start.

Essentially, the plot was to swap a Protestant bigot for a Catholic bigot by blowing up the ruling class of the country.

I'll celebrate just about any holiday commemorating a revolution, and I usually do the same thing every time -- talk treason and revolution with my friends.

Yes, I did know about Guy Fawkes Day before "V for Vendetta," but being an American, we have our own anti-British revolution to celebrate every year. ;)

Nonetheless, I've had sparklers every time it's come around, even though I'm now 19. They are awesome!

Now, some of us will be able to blow things up...,however, others of us have laws that do not allow things to be blown up at this time of the year.

So how will you celebrate, or not celebrate Guy Fawkes Day...and what does it mean to you, if anything?

I didn't realise it was Guy Fawkes Day untill now, which saddens me as V for Vendetta is my favorite movie of all time.

I didn't realise it was Guy Fawkes Day untill now, which saddens me as V for Vendetta is my favorite movie of all time.
It's a much, much better graphic novel than it is a film, even if it does have Stephen Fry in it. I would honestly recommend reading the book. It does give one a much different persceptive on the film, even though all the actors concerned are very good.

I am going to celebrate Guy Fawkes day by surfing for hot pics of Natalie Portman.

And this is different from every other day, how? :D

Nonetheless, I've had sparklers every time it's come around, even though I'm now 19. They are awesome!

You know you can make sparkler bombs.

http://www.dansdata.com/personal/Bombs.html

Very cool to see go off.

Pics:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dansdata.com/personal/images/bomb0.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dansdata.com/personal/bombpics.htm&h=238&w=320&sz=10&tbnid=wd34jQGDBTs-6M:&tbnh=

How many of us knew about Guy Fawkes Day before the movie...V for Vendetta?

I am one that did, know about it before the movie.

Me, we used to have a bonfire night & fireworks every year.

People should not be afraid of thier governments. Governments should be afraid of the people.
-V, V for Vendetta.

So, we are celebrating some religious fruitcake who wanted to murder the entire representative assembly of Britain to set up a Catholic dictatorship? Wow...

Its ironic that by todays standards that Guy Fawkes would be classified as a 'terrorist', and yet we still celebrate him. Can you imagine people doing the same in hundreds of years time for Bin Laden? :D

Er - no we don't celebrate him - we (or at least those who cellebrate) celebrate the fact he was caught

So, we are celebrating some religious fruitcake who wanted to murder the entire representative assembly of Britain to set up a Catholic dictatorship? Wow...

Well it was hardly representative in the 1600's anyway. And in any case:

People, we don't celebrate what Guy Fawkes tried to do, we celebrate the fact that he got busted in the process. Jeez. Thats why we burn 'Guys' on the bonfire. Its not to keep his ethereal toes warm.

He wasn't fighting against an oppressive, quasi-theocracy/dictatorship so much as try to replace it with a different oppressive, quasi-theocracy/dictatorship.You mean like the Mayflower folks? Happy Thanksgiving, btw.

in the future america will have its own fake guys day, only it will be called george bush day.

i forget the story of guy fawks, living over here in the u.s. as i do. it's not something we're taught in school or much of anybody thinks about or have even more then vaguely heard about.

but if i understand correctly, he was someone historical in government who did something most everyone thought was pretty much messed up, so they celebrate whatever was done to him or something.

which is about as much as i 'know', or don't know as the case might (more likely) be, about it.

=^^=
.../\...

So, we are celebrating some religious fruitcake who wanted to murder the entire representative assembly of Britain to set up a Catholic dictatorship? Wow...
Nah, we're kind of celebrating that he and his co-conspirators were hanged, drawn and quartered.

I mock those who celebrate this holiday by watching V for Vendetta, for they miss the point entirely.

How many of us knew about Guy Fawkes Day before the movie...V for Vendetta?

I am one that did, know about it before the movie.

I knew about it, it was mentioned in a book called *the sky is falling* about a 10 year old english girl who gets evacuated to Canada during WW2.

I'm celebrating by building a fire in the backyard...but i use any excuse to build a fire in the backyard :d

So, we are celebrating some religious fruitcake who wanted to murder the entire representative assembly of Britain to set up a Catholic dictatorship? Wow...

It has been pointed out a number of times in this thread, by myself and others, that people celebrate for precisely the opposite reason. Do try to read in future.

I mock those who celebrate this holiday by watching V for Vendetta, for they miss the point entirely.

It looks like V for Vendetta is doing as much for history as Braveheart did

It looks like V for Vendetta is doing as much for history as Braveheart did

You mean William Wallace didn't consume the English with bolts of lightning from his eyes, and balls of fire from his arse?

You mean like the Mayflower folks? Happy Thanksgiving, btw.

The Pilgrims weren't trying to take over the government, they thought is was so corrupt that they left as soon as they could. But you're right, it's the same mindset.

I would like to point out, though, that Thanksgiving doesn't celebrate Pilgrim puritanism so much as their food, and their not dying. :)