On this day in 1606 Guy Fawkes was executed.
- 31 January 2009 08:4914373Poor ould misunderstood Guy..he did his best to rid us of politicians forever but received much pain for his trouble, for on this day in 1606 he was hung drawn and quartered in no uncertain terms. Not very nice..I mean hanging is bad enough on its own! Many suspected the whole thing to be a fiendish popish plot from the suppressed and revolting Catholics, but not being a historian, and English History in particular being a huge grey area for yours truly, I couldnt possibly comment further but anyone who knows the full story might like to.
The fascinating thing is why do we in fact celebrate a bomber. With something like 25 tons of gunpowder he tried on the fifth of november to blow up one of the finest buildings in the country, the cornerstone of civilization, the pillar of society, the mother of all parliaments. Yet in our hearts we must have a secret admiration for the fellow, a fondness for the chap, who at a stroke would have got rid of politics and politicians forever. Thats the positive spin above...more likely these politicians would have resurfaced, as anyone knows its always very hard to eradicate pests!
Anyone got an idea as to why we still celebrate the event with much affection every fifth of november?
In Ireland we dont celebrate Guy Fawkes or bombings in general. We have had so many bombers of our own that life would be just one long firework party...and that would never do.
email: dover7@msn.com - 31 January 2009 09:1714380Maybe we celebrate him NOT blowing up the Houses of Parliament Paul B.
Roger - 31 January 2009 09:1914381Correct Roger that is exactly what it is.
- 31 January 2009 09:5814383I have a feeling that one of his decendants is alive and living in River,he seems to want to take over the Country on his own and today has announced UDI in River,yes it's Vic.Anyone want something for the top of the bonfire call Mic Vatcham King of all River,some would say the best place for him is in the River.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble! - 31 January 2009 10:0814386We celebrate him not blowing something up by blowing stuff up. Thank your gods we don't celebrate the end of a war by declaring one.Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
31 January 2009 11:0414393probably the first recorded terrorist in british history. - 31 January 2009 17:0214412English people have used bonfires to celebrate for centuries. As Roger and Barry correctly say, the celebration in this instance is of the safe deliverance of the king and those with him.
Mind you, I don't suppose that's the uppermost thought for people these days - - they probably go to bonfire parties or firework displays because they're funThe Dover War Memorial Project
www.doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk - 31 January 2009 17:0614413Good one john keep them coming
kING vIC - 31 January 2009 17:4814415Ever wondered what the damage would have been had had the plot succeeded? Look no further and watch this:
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The clip is taken from a recent C4 documentary in which Richard Hammond and team constructed a replica of the Parliament chamber and packed it with black powder barrels of the same type as the plotters used. The explosion is devastating - nothing could have survived within the building. - 31 January 2009 20:4614430interesting one phil, just for arguments sake, how much would be needed to have the same effect in the council chamber at whitfield?
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
31 January 2009 21:0714432about the same just to make sure. - 1 February 2009 08:3714452Great explosion and from every conceivable angle.
Has anyone ever written a book on what if.............
Roger