Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Today marks the 402 anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot that was the inspiration for the movie (and earlier graphic novel) “V for Vendetta.” I found this to be one of the most powerful movies I’ve seen in a long time because it speaks to the heart of what I think is going wrong in our culture today…the ascendency of fear as a driving force.

So today, lets remember the words of the character “V” in the movie that are so poignant for our times today:

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 into 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.

h/t to James at Mahatma X Files for the reminder.

6 comments

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  1. that asks us to remember:

  2. Since it is a little vague whether I registered at Dkos on the fifth or the sixth of November in 2005…I am going to make my blogoversary the 5th….in honor of Guy!

    Everybody rent V is for Vengeance tonight!

    (note to NSA: I have no intention of blowing up Parliament!)

    • fatdave on November 5, 2007 at 18:24

    Not so much a line from a kiddie’s rhyme as an abstract of the charge sheet of Anthony Charles Lynton Blair.

    • lezlie on November 6, 2007 at 00:20

    my group of fellow-radicals and I (Flaming A Productions) celebrated Guy Fawkes Day as a time to protest and stand up for what we believed… now that day would be Tuesday, as well as Wednesday thru Monday!

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