Saturday, November 5, 2011

Remember...


An unremarkable movie that came out a few years ago. That's all the movie "V" was. That's it. Didn't win any awards and it disappeared pretty quickly.  However, At the recent "Occupy Whatever" protests, there have been quite a few sightings of the shadowy figure known as V in the form of a Chinese made, plastic mask attached to a smelly, probably high, dirty hippie.

Yeah, whatever, you bought that thing from a another dirty assed, unwashed dipshit sitting in the next tent who had the foresight to buy 50 of them and sell them to you and your buddies for a tidy profit. Capitalism at it's best. The same thing you are protesting.

But, The character is a gentleman by the name of Guy (Guido) Fawkes. Who's he you ask? Well here's the skinny. He and others, attempted to blow up Westminster Castle in 1605. An anonymous letter was received buy government officials, and he was caught, tortured, and died while trying to escape the hangman's noose. He was defiant to the end.

Fawkes became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, the failure of which has been commemorated in England since 5 November 1605. His effigy is often burned on a bonfire, commonly accompanied by a fireworks display.


But, and here's the thing. The symbol of Guy Fawkes has quickly (since the movie V) become synonymous with protest. The mask makes you faceless symbol of (anti government) protest. If you haven't seen the movie, see it. You will understand the reasoning behind the symbolism.

In these trying times we live in, people are working harder for less. They are unemployed. They are losing their houses and cars. They are frustrated.

Maybe the plastic, Chinese made mask is more of an idea and represents the frustration that we are all feeling than we realize. Maybe we should all buy one.



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