Happy Bonfire Night

by Bryan

10 comments

1 Fallenmonk { 11.05.07 at 6:40 am }

I think we could do well to imitate this celebration and I can think of quite a few effigies that would do well.

2 Steve Bates { 11.05.07 at 10:54 am }

Should I write a polytonal composition for the occasion, titled “Burning in F and G”?

3 John B. { 11.05.07 at 11:03 am }

Brian,

You may have seen this, but just in case: Happy Counterterrorism Day by Scott Horton.

Guy Fawkes was seized and taken to the Tower of London. There, by special warrant issued by the king, he was subjected to torture over the next four days… .
* * *
Torture was a weakness, not a strength of the Government. In twenty-three years, this would be the accepted wisdom of a society sickened and revolted by the official use of cruelty and of torture. In one hundred and seventy years, a nation would be born committed to suppressing it forever. . . or, as it turns out, until the arrival of George W. Bush.

4 jams o donnell { 11.05.07 at 11:34 am }

I find the 5th of November a major pain in the arse. Needless to say the feline foursome like it even less (except Mimi who is too stupid to be scared). I think there is something unsavoury about burning people in effigy. There are a lot of bonfire societies in Sussex south of London. One still burns the pope . Another, in the village of Firle, got into trouble for burning a gipsy caravan with effigies inside. It’s one tradition I can do without

5 Bryan { 11.05.07 at 12:45 pm }

I’ve never quite understood the celebration of violence with violence, but then, I have an acquired aversion to things that go “boom” – I don’t associate them with good times or happy results.

I fully expect to hear fireworks tonight as the guys who work in the kitchen at the Oriental restaurant use every excuse to set off firecrackers in the back parking lot.

6 Steve Bates { 11.05.07 at 6:56 pm }

“I fully expect to hear fireworks tonight as the guys who work in the kitchen at the Oriental restaurant use every excuse to set off firecrackers in the back parking lot.”

In Houston, he’d be arrested as he crossed the city line. HPD monitors fireworks stands on all incoming highways and follows potential violators to the city line. I don’t know if HPD knows anything about Guy Fawkes, though.

I recited part of the rhyme in the presence of a member of Stella’s family, stopping when they looked at me blankly. I think it enhanced my reputation among her family as an outright nutjob.

7 Bryan { 11.05.07 at 9:25 pm }

It takes 30 minutes for a deputy to show up after you call, so they aren’t in much danger of arrest even though it’s illegal.

I can’t say I would have picked Houston as the location of a significant British ex-pat population, so Guy Fawkes is probably not mentioned.

The Canadians aren’t due until after Christmas, so there isn’t a big local celebration either.

8 hipparchia { 11.05.07 at 11:42 pm }

i love bonfires and things that go boom!, but i’m with jams on burning effigies. that’s just creepy.

9 Bryan { 11.06.07 at 12:33 am }

I have nothing against bonfires, but you can keep your booms. There were often Halloween bonfires when I was a child.

10 hipparchia { 11.06.07 at 2:44 am }

that’s understandable. i have to admit that i prefer bonfires on the beach, where there’s plenty of water if you need it and nothing much that burns.