Guy Fawkes Day

I'm shocked at how many people don't know that today, November 5th, is Guy Fawkes (or Bonfire) Day. So, a little history lesson, shall we (and it shall have to be little as I have other things to get to)?

In 1605, Guy Fawkes, former soldier, fell into a plot to protest his displeasure with the English Government by planting huge cases of gunpoweder all around the base of Parliament and, in essence, blowing all the politicians to kingdom come. Obviously, he didn't succeed. But the people of England have lovingly remembered his anti-establishment tendancies by creating effigies of the man and torching them on large, public, bonfires every November 5th and setting off fireworks. How cool is that? I think that the English are the only people in the world who would conceive of the idea of honoring the thwarting of senseless destruction by allowing more senseless destruction.

So now, on the 403rd anniversary of some whacko (who strongly believed in his right to protest the government) not blowing up the Parliament buildings, we come to the day after one of the most anticipated political races that I think my generation will ever seen. And I seriously want to set off some fireworks and light a bonfire. Not so much to protest the government (though I have SERIOUS issues with our government lately) but to honor the thwarting of senseless destruction by allowing more senseless destruction.

In any case, Guy Fawkes Day. Go light some fireworks...