NationStates Jolt Archive


Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

Kykk
05-11-2007, 20:12
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?
InGen Bioengineering
05-11-2007, 20:14
I'd celebrate/not celebrate/whatever by watching V for Vendetta, but I don't own it, so...*shrug*
Neo Art
05-11-2007, 20:16
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)
Kinda Sensible people
05-11-2007, 20:16
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.
Chumblywumbly
05-11-2007, 20:16
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.
Kykk
05-11-2007, 20:17
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.
Kykk
05-11-2007, 20:17
I shall celebrate by pretending I'm in a warzone.

Aren't we all in a war zone?
Call to power
05-11-2007, 20:19
"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)
InGen Bioengineering
05-11-2007, 20:19
How many of us knew about Guy Fawkes Day before the movie...V for Vendetta?

Not me.
La Habana
05-11-2007, 20:20
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
Nodinia
05-11-2007, 20:20
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.
Mirkana
05-11-2007, 20:21
I am watching V for Vendetta as I type this.
Nadkor
05-11-2007, 20:21
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.
Kinda Sensible people
05-11-2007, 20:23
It's also international Bad Religion day, so it's a double celebration.
New Genoa
05-11-2007, 20:25
so that's why someone drew a V on the college campus property
Kykk
05-11-2007, 20:25
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.
Nodinia
05-11-2007, 20:26
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......
Nadkor
05-11-2007, 20:27
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.
Brittenburg
05-11-2007, 20:27
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.
Infinite Revolution
05-11-2007, 20:43
bah, i'm bored of fireworks.
Khadgar
05-11-2007, 20:45
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.
Gravlen
05-11-2007, 20:46
*Blows up Parliament*
Infinite Revolution
05-11-2007, 20:47
The only man to ever enter Parliament with honest intentions.

ha! good one.
Khadgar
05-11-2007, 20:52
ha! good one.

I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't recall where I heard it.
Kimodo
05-11-2007, 21:27
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
Fleckenstein
05-11-2007, 21:36
The only man to ever enter Parliament with honest intentions.

Love it.
Kamchapka
05-11-2007, 21:39
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.
IL Ruffino
05-11-2007, 21:43
By posting in this thread I show my acknowledgment of said holiday.
Pirated Corsairs
05-11-2007, 21:44
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. =\
Nodinia
05-11-2007, 21:50
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...
Alexandrian Ptolemais
05-11-2007, 22:15
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.
Nodinia
05-11-2007, 22:23
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.
Ultraviolent Radiation
05-11-2007, 22:23
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.
Nodinia
05-11-2007, 22:27
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.
Laterale
05-11-2007, 22:29
I set off fireworks!
King Arthur the Great
05-11-2007, 22:40
*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.
Khadgar
05-11-2007, 22:42
*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.
Nadkor
05-11-2007, 22:54
Uh, he was Catholic, he was planning to kill everyone to bring back the Catholic Church.

Read it again; I think he got it.
Nodinia
05-11-2007, 23:18
*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.
Sel Appa
05-11-2007, 23:49
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.
Creepy Lurker
06-11-2007, 00:04
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.
New Limacon
06-11-2007, 01:24
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.
Gartref
06-11-2007, 01:34
I am going to celebrate Guy Fawkes day by surfing for hot pics of Natalie Portman.
Tsaphiel
06-11-2007, 01:46
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.
Marrakech II
06-11-2007, 02:33
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?
Marrakech II
06-11-2007, 02:34
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
Johnny B Goode
06-11-2007, 03:01
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.
Barringtonia
06-11-2007, 03:05
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.
[NS]Click Stand
06-11-2007, 03:41
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:(
Tagmatium
06-11-2007, 03:52
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.
Muravyets
06-11-2007, 03:54
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. ;)
Tagmatium
06-11-2007, 03:56
Nonetheless, I've had sparklers every time it's come around, even though I'm now 19. They are awesome!
Falevere
06-11-2007, 04:00
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.
Tagmatium
06-11-2007, 04:14
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.
Pirated Corsairs
06-11-2007, 04:28
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
Marrakech II
06-11-2007, 05:54
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=
Boonytopia
06-11-2007, 06:36
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.
BackwoodsSquatches
06-11-2007, 06:38
People should not be afraid of thier governments. Governments should be afraid of the people.
-V, V for Vendetta.
Eureka Australis
06-11-2007, 06:44
So, we are celebrating some religious fruitcake who wanted to murder the entire representative assembly of Britain to set up a Catholic dictatorship? Wow...
CharlieCat
06-11-2007, 09:45
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
Turquoise Days
06-11-2007, 09:55
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.
The Brevious
06-11-2007, 09:55
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.
Cameroi
06-11-2007, 09:56
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.

=^^=
.../\...
Tagmatium
06-11-2007, 13:56
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.
Ifreann
06-11-2007, 14:24
I mock those who celebrate this holiday by watching V for Vendetta, for they miss the point entirely.
Hobabwe
06-11-2007, 14:25
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
Nadkor
06-11-2007, 16:00
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.
Dundee-Fienn
06-11-2007, 16:10
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
Ifreann
06-11-2007, 16:17
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?
New Limacon
06-11-2007, 17:40
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. :)