Remember Remember, The 5th of November
Good evening, America. Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of every day routine – the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as anyone. 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 struggle, a celebration of a nice holiday, I thought we could mark this November the 5th, 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. 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 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 soon to be former president, George W. Bush. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent. 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, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot.
Tags: Censorship, Death, Inspiration, Life, Motivation, Religion, Solutions, Work
November 5th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Well, Barack Obama got elected. That is exciting. Hopefully, that will be the beginning of some real change in the direction this country has been headed for quite awhile now. Drastic change like Guy Fawkes wanted to bring about.
I am with you. Too bad all the volunteering and work I did for local campaigns trying to bring about change all ended in failure. Seems the majority of the older generation in Arizona is more willing to tolerate despicable figures in positions of power (most notably the Maricopa County Sheriff) than vote for any kind of change.
November 5th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
yeah, I heard about Sheriff Joe. That sucks. I think a combination of a lot of things keep him in office.
I think for old people, it’s a matter of keeping things the same. They know he’s been there forever, and unless they actually look at it logically, it’s comforting to keep the same names and faces. Similar to presidents never losing a campaign for a second term during a war.
For the younger crowd, I think a lot of people think he’s amusing, or entertaining, so they just go with it too.
Good catch on the Guy Fawkes by the way.
November 28th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Wow! This blows my mind! It seems another person has had the same inspiration as I’ve had!
Today is Nov 28, the Friday night of Thanksgiving Weekend, as I sit here and marvel at what I’m looking at on my screen.
Being a fan of the movie, V for Vendetta, as well as a Democrat, the inspiration came to me when I sat up late on the night of Nov 4 to see the results of the election, to come up with an appropriate blog post for the morning of Nov 5, combining Election Day with Guy Fawkes Day. With some help from YouTube, this is what I came up with.
http://friendsofdebbie.blogspot.com/2008/11/remember-remember-5th-of-november.html
I guess it’s true. Great minds think alike!