What's the deal with Guy Fawkes anyway?

[denverbill]

I mean really. 400 years ago, somebody failed to blow up Parliament? So what?

140 years ago, 1/2 the US tried to leave and failed after a bloody 4 year war. But we don't celebrate the occasion. We don't celebrate the Whiskey Rebellion either. We especially don't celebrate failed assassination attempts.

So who the hell was Guy Fawkes and why the hell is Britain still celebrating his failure 400 years after the fact? Maybe he was right and Parliament deserved blowin up back then.

[Francis]

1. We celebrate July 4th

Brits do not !!

[Byronic]

2. Damn right!

Britons everywhere should be celebrating Robert Catesby night instead!

Why that good for nothing, pointy-hatted, poor excuse for a fuse lighter Fawkes...grumble,mumble, mumble.....

[SOteric]

3. Dude, it's an alcoholiday.

An occasion for antics and fun, and far too much beverage. I've come to believe people need these at various points in the year and will accept any reason to enjoy them.

We have them in the U.S., too. Think how many who are neither Irish nor Catholic celebrate St. Patrick's Day, or how many who are not particularly Latino who celebrate Cinco de Mayo, etc...

:hi:

[TXlib]

8. I hate cinco de mayo

five jars of mayonnaise? All at once?

:puke:

[GOPisEvil]

9. *throws jars of mayo*

I'm going to have your wife hit you for that one tonight! :P

[Khephra]

4. This quote sort of explains it all

"Some of the English have been known to wonder whether they are celebrating Fawkes' execution or honoring his attempt to do away with the government."

It's a little bit of "A" and a little bit of "B", all depending on your views on religion and gov't.

[Zero Gravitas]

5. Its a good excuse

to light great big fires, drink too much, let off fireworks, drink too much, have a party and drink too much...

Hmmm... maybe we need to start celebrating November 5th in the US too...

[BrotherBuzz]

6. They say...

Guy Fawkes was the last person to enter Parliament with honest intentions.

[happyslug]

7. A back handed compliment to him also.

On his capture, he held out for three days under torture (more than enough time for his co-consipirators to escape, the idiots did not but that was not Fawkes fault). Than as he was to be drawn and quarters, he craws up the scaffows and as they tie the noose around him he jumps off the scaffows and breaks his neck. The Drawn and quarerting continued but with a dead body

His death is the reason for the coin, if you were beheaded you tipped the executioner so he did a quick and painless death, in drawn and quartering no such quick and painless death was intended. You were hanged (drawn) till not quite dead, than dropped to the ground where your legs and arsm were cut off (Quartered) and than your guts spilled out. Fawkes hanged himself and thus "earned" the tip for his own quick death. He hanged himself, instead of leaving his executioner draw out his painful death.

Whether youa greed with him or disagreed with him, his actions after his arrest are to be admired and thus it is.

[denverbill]

11. Interesting. Hadn't heard that stuff.

Everything I read about him talked about the persecution of Catholics in the 100 years prior to the attempt.

I'm not a big supporter of the papacy, but I hardly consider a government run church an improvement.

Interesting stuff.

[BigMcLargehuge]

10. I went to the celebration in the town of Lewis

it was fantastically fun

[BritishHuman]

12. Remember, remember...

The Fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason
why gunpowder and treason
should e'er be forgot.

King James had his advisors create a children's rhyme so that no-one would forget about it - the first piece of viral marketing.

[Paul1574]

13. terrorist or not ?

he was a catholic too lol

oh the irony.....