Remember, remember the 5th of November

Remember, remember!
The fifth of November
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

More than just the opening quotes of one of my favorite films, these lines begin a British folk verse telling the tale of Guy Fawkes. It seems appropriate that on this day, the 5th of November, I pay homage to the man, the legend and because I can, the film.

First, the man. Guy Fawkes is most famously related to November the 5th even though he was not actually the lead conspirator (according to most of the accounts I've read). What I've managed to find has been interesting but I will just pull out a few links for your brief enjoyment:

Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night gives a very basic breakdown of the whole affair.

Guy Fawkes - this is probably my favorite because who doesn't love the BBC???

Here is the full Fifth of November Verse as well. If you are interested...

So, as it seems, Guy Fawkes was a pretty impressive man recruited for his know how and martyred to his groups cause after a significant bout of torture. Poor guy. All because he wanted to topple an oppressive government.

It is with this spirit that the film V for Vendetta burst onto the Hollywood scene. A stunning if not thought-provoking masterpiece by the Wachowksi siblings, V pushes the ideals of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators.

"People should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people."

This is one of my favorite quotes from the movie and delivered at a poignant moment as V (portrayed by the ever impressive Hugo Weaving) explains to Evey (the lovely and talented Natalie Portman) why he is pushing forward with his shocking plans to tear down their current government. I won't give away the plot for those who have not watched V for Vendetta yet, but know that it is well worth your time to be reminded of what many Americans seem to have forgotten. Governments are meant to work for their people, not the other way around. I am posting political now but only to say that we are at a breaking point as our government is failing because the parties are so at odds fighting over issues that should not even be on the table when people are dying of diseases that should be curable, wars are being fought on foreign soil, our fellow Americans are starving and impoverished and utterly uneducated. Frankly, I don't know that it matters anymore who sits in the White House so long as our nation remains so divided and focused on issues that function as little more than smoke and mirrors to distract us from the real issues at hand. I hope America comes to her senses before Idiocracy becomes our reality....