Dom Pannell's Blog

Remember, Remember...

... the Fifth of November
The gunpowder treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England's overthrow.

By God's mercy he was catched
With a dark lantern and lighted match.
Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the King.

Words of "Remember Remember" refer to Guy Fawkes with origins in 17th century English history. On the 5th November 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was subsequently tried as a traitor with his co-conspirators for plotting against the government. He was tried by Judge Popham who came to London specifically for the trial from his country manor Littlecote House in Hungerford, Gloucestershire. Fawkes was sentenced to death and the form of the execution was one of the most horrendous ever practised (hung, drawn and quartered). This reflected the serious nature of the crime of treason. This nursery rhyme ensured that this crime would never be forgotten hence the words " Remember, remember the 5th of November" The poem is sometimes referred to as 'Please to remember the fifth of November'. It serves as a warning to each new generation that treason will never be forgotten. In England the 5th of November is still commemorated each year with fireworks and bonfires culminating with the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes (the guy). The 'guys' are made by children by filling old clothes with crumpled newspapers to look like a man. Tradition allows British children to display their 'guys' to passers-by and asking for " A penny for the guy".

The notes above come from here: http://www.rhymes.org.uk/remember_remember_the_5th_november.htm

I wonder how Usama bin Ladin will be remembered once he's been caught. I guess the answer depends on whether you are one of the people he is terrorising, or you belong to his completely misguided followers who seem to believe that harming someone's children is an appropriate way of making a parent back down on their principles. Can't Al-Qaeda see that theirs is a policy that is only going to make their enemies more entrenched? Perhaps that is what they want... life is so much easier if you have an enemy with whom to contend (did someone say Neo-Conservative?).

I wonder if the Americans will hang, draw and quarter bin Ladin? Of course that action would only serve to make him a martyr, engendering thousands more willing disciples of death - just look to Northern Ireland if you want a lesson from history... I was in Belfast the day before the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands died; I still recall the tanks cruising the streets, waiting for action to kick off, but not knowing where it would actually start.

Actually, there may be a theme here... the day after I left (El) Ferrol in Galicia 17 years or so ago, Galician separatists blew up the statue of Franco that was right outside the bank I had used the day before... then there was the bomb on the metro in Paris at the time I usually went through St Michel (a terror campaign by the Algerian Armed Islamic Group aimed at taking vengeance on the country for its support of the regime in Algiers. The bombing of a packed commuter train at the Saint-Michel station in Paris in July 1995 killed eight people and injured 100).

Luckily I was nowhere near New York at 9/11 - I watched it while talking to a gentleman called Paul Blackburn who had just made me redundant. He was also watching it on TV... you can imagine the conversation was somewhat uninspiring.

I think I'd better watch my back!

A final note: May Sgt Stuart Gray, 31, Private Paul Lowe, 19 and Private Scott McArdle, 22, the three members of the Black Watch who were killed in the Sunni heartland yesterday rest in peace. The civilised world, who they were defending, sympathises with their families.

/Dom

Posted by dompannell at November 5, 2004 1:13 PM