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| Britain |
| Guy Fawkes dropped for bonfire night |
| 2006-11-02 |
| Hat tip No Pasaran! Guy Fawkes has been banned by council bosses in east London - and replaced with a Bengali folk tale. Tower Hamlets said it wanted to provide an "alternative" theme to celebrate November 5 and the attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Yup, renuncing to one's identity and tradition for the sake of the Holy Diversity is Double-plus good. Too bad it's always one-way, and the ones bending themselves over backward are always the same. The council has commissioned a £75,000 fireworks display entitled the Emperor and the Tiger, which tells the story of the "Moghul Emperor, the Wise Man and the Guardian of the Jungle". As a mock Bengal tiger paces a giant catwalk, fire will light up a "forest" to the sound of Bangla drummers and dancers. Around 20,000 people are expected to pack into Hackney's Victoria Park for Sunday night's display - but there will be no mention of the date's enormous significance in British history. The move came under fire from George Galloway and campaigners. Mr Galloway, Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow said: "It beggars belief that this council should organise a Bonfire Night without a bonfire or a Guy." Oh, no I'm agreeing with loathsome one! What's wrong with me?! John Midgley, spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said the council's move would "explode in their faces". He added: "There's a time and a place for everything and November 5 is for Bonfire Night. It's time for common sense and for people to tell bureaucrats that politically correct actions like these undermine our historic occasions and harm community relations." One third of Tower Hamlets' population of 196,000 is Bengali - about 65,000. But Bengalis dominate the council and its cabinet with 31 of the 51 councillors. Tower Hamlets council insisted they were neither being politically correct nor forgetting the Gunpowder Plot. Officials said: We did Guy fawkes last year" and insisted it was their tradition to have a different theme each year. In a statement, a spokesman said: "And this differentiates our celebrations from other boroughs and our events are proving to be extremely popular. "Our sole aim is to stage an exciting event - on the traditional Fireworks Night - that will attract the interest of as many people as possible. Since introducing the themed events four years ago, visitor numbers have increased from 3,000 to a massive 23,000 people at last year's event. Let's judge the event by how much people enjoy themselves on the night." Three nights of displays will light up the skies of London this weekend. Bonfire Night is Sunday, but many displays have been brought forward to Friday and Saturday - which means a 72-hour bonfire bonanza. Check the comments. |
| Posted by:anonymous5089 |
| #4 And for the other side of the pond: Remember, remember Eleven September Box cutters, airliners and plot I see no reason why bombing and treason should ever be forgot |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2006-11-02 19:33 |
| #3 Officials said: We did Guy fawkes last year Did Christmas last year as well. Expect a replacement with Haj festivities this year. |
| Posted by: Shuns Uleating3851 2006-11-02 17:18 |
| #2 I have to agree with the Council. It's been four hundred years and the threat of Fawkes, the Pope and even the Jesuits is sufficiently small that they no longer constitute a threat worthy of burning in effigy. Instead I suggest the holiday be brought up to date for Cool Britannia Remember, remember July the eleventh, Train station treason and Plot. I see no reason why train bombing treason should ever be forgot. Then the kiddies can go from door to door and ask for "Pennies for the Mo." The evening can end with the torching of Mohammed Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Germaine Lindsay, Hasib Hussain, the current Mullah or Imam of contempt and the original Mo together with Any combination of Shemp, Curly and Larry the revelers may chose. Khameni and Ahmedinajihad would be my current candidate for torching. Any child failing to collect Pennies for the Mo should be subject to stoning by the torchers as closet Muzzies. I feel sure Pym and Hampton would approve. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-11-02 16:10 |
| #1 Well, Ima gonna celebrate it here with bonfire and seal bombs, heh. No party poopers here. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-11-02 15:59 |