Saturday, November 5, 2011

Remember Remember The Fifth Of November



Good evening, London.

Allow me first to apologize for this interruption.

I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of everyday routine -- the security of the familiar -- the tranquility of repetition.

I enjoy them as much as any bloke.

But in the spirit of commemoration, thereby those important events of the past, usually associated with someone's death, or the end of some awful bloody struggle, a celebration of a nice holiday, I thought we could mark this November the 5th, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat.

There are, of course, those who do not want us to speak.

I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way.

Why?

Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power.

Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth.

And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?

Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression.

And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission.

How did this happen?

Who's to blame?

Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable.

But again, truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only LOOK IN A MIRROR.

I know why you did it.

I know you were afraid.

Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease.

There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense.

Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now high chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent.

Last night I sought to end that silence.

Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey, to remind this country of what it has forgotten.

More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory.

His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives.

So, if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then I would suggest you allow the fifth of November to pass, unmarked.

But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

/non-verbal gesture indicating approval

JDJarvis said...

Seems a little odd a religiously motivated would-be-murderer who wanted to place a royal on the throne by killing another has become a symbol of freedom.

Aaron E. Steele said...

@JD: yes, is suppose it is odd. Of course, the persecution, torture and execution of catholics may have played some small role in the plot. Context is king. :)

JDJarvis said...

Sure I know, they (Fawkes and friends) wanted to be the team persecuting, torturing and executing. Folks weren't very nice to each other in the good old days, context and all.

Aaron E. Steele said...

If that is your belief, then you have clearly been misinformed...

"The Catholics, relieved at the prospect that the son of a Catholic monarch had seemingly been guaranteed the throne after Elizabeth's death, had acquired from James the promise of TOLERATION in the event that he did succeed Elizabeth. When James eventually succeeded Elizabeth in 1603, as James I, there was initial celebration by the Catholic leaders, who under Elizabeth had been persecuted to such an extreme that ANY SIGN of Catholic sympathy risked the severest of penalties, INCLUDING DEATH. James, however, was not to be their saviour. No sooner had the Hampton Court Conference ended -- with no compromise being given to either the Puritan faction or the Catholics -- than James re-introduced the harsh penalties for recusancy (failure to attend Anglican services)."

They were looking for toleration of their Catholicism. Not revenge.

http://www.gunpowder-plot.org/plot.asp

JDJarvis said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chris said...

They were looking for toleration of their Catholicism. Not revenge.

And blowing up Parliament and the King would *increase* public tolerance of Catholics in 17th century England?

Mr Catesby, Mr Fawkes: you fail logic forever!

Aaron E. Steele said...

LOL!

:)

Aaron E. Steele said...

Chris, I can only close by repeating the words of V ...

"So, if you've seen, nothing; if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you; then I would suggest you allow the fifth of November to pass, unmarked."

Is it obtuseness or ignorance? As they say, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

Jake said...

That...was...really badass.