Tuesday 11 November 2008

Armistice Day

Today marks the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI - the 'Great War', the 'War To End All Wars'. The armistice was signed at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and we observed a 2 minute silence this morning to honor the fallen soldiers from this war and those that have followed.

Many events took place this past Sunday (Remembrance Sunday), including parades and special church services. Henry Patch, who lives in Somerset and is 110 years old, was at a parade locally on Sunday. The oldest living veteran is Henry Allingham, who is 112! (FYI, this year also marks the 90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.) Here's an article about Allingham, who is a founding member of the RAF:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/06/06/oldest.veteran/
index.html

In Britain, Armistice Day is proceeded by a 'poppy appeal.' I confess, I was confused by people wearing paper poppies (that look like a first-grader made them in art class) on their lapels. But the matter was quickly cleared up and I learned that the poppies serve as a reminder of the fallen soldiers. Apparently, when people returned to the battle fields where so many men died, they were covered in poppy flowers. This red flower has ever since been associated with the blood shed and the lives lost in WWI. So, each year the veteran association makes these paper poppies for the public to buy and wear as part of their remembrance, and the monies raised go towards care for veterans. I bought one for a pound, and wore it on Saturday. Above is a picture of a large poppy on the front of a building in the center of Bristol. And I don't know if you can tell, but I'm wearing a poppy in the picture below- standing in front of a pub with a great name! :)

Thursday 6 November 2008

Remember, Remember, the 5th of November

So Wednesday was Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night. This is a holiday in England celebrated with fireworks, bonfires, and the burning of Guy Fawkes effigies. I was at a welcome dinner with people from Christ Church on Wednesday night, at the home of Simon and Margaret. Their home overlooks the Clifton Suspension Bridge (more on that later) and we could see people setting off fireworks on the grass across the street. So, who was Guy Fawkes?? Here's some information from the website http://www.bonfirenight.net.
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In 1605, thirteen young men planned to blow up
the Houses of Parliament. Among them was
Guy Fawkes, Britain's most notorious traitor.

After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had been persecuted under her rule had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion. James I had, after all, had a Catholic mother. Unfortunately, James did not turn out to be more tolerant than Elizabeth and a number of young men, 13 to be exact, decided that violent action was the answer.

A small group took shape, under the leadership of Robert Catesby. Catesby felt that violent action was warranted. Indeed, the thing to do was to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In doing so, they would kill the King, maybe even the Prince of Wales, and the Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics. Today these conspirators would be known as extremists, or terrorists.

To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder - and stored them in a cellar, just under the House of Lords.

But as the group worked on the plot, it became clear that innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack, including some people who even fought for more rights for Catholics. Some of the plotters started having second thoughts. One of the group members even sent an anonymous letter warning his friend, Lord Monteagle, to stay away from the Parliament on November 5th. Was the letter real?

The warning letter reached the King, and the King's forces made plans to stop the conspirators.

Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed.

It's unclear if the conspirators would ever have been able to pull off their plan to blow up the Parliament even if they had not been betrayed. Some have suggested that the gunpowder itself was so old as to be useless. Since Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators got caught before trying to ignite the powder, we'll never know for certain.

Even for the period which was notoriously unstable, the Gunpowder Plot struck a very profound chord for the people of England. In fact, even today, the reigning monarch only enters the Parliament once a year, on what is called "the State Opening of Parliament". Prior to the Opening, and according to custom, the Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster. Nowadays, the Queen and Parliament still observe this tradition.

On the very night that the Gunpowder Plot was foiled, on November 5th, 1605, bonfires were set alight to celebrate the safety of the King. Since then, November 5th has become known as Bonfire Night. The event is commemorated every year with fireworks and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire.

Some of the English have been known to wonder, in a tongue in cheek kind of way, whether they are celebrating Fawkes' execution or honoring his attempt to do away with the government.

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Historic Election

I feel proud to be an American as the Presidential election has drawn to a close. It was a long and hard-fought campaign between two dignified candidates, both of whom I respect. New vistas were opened for women by the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin - two women differing in personalities, approaches and ideologies but similar in their conviction and drive. As a result, the word feminist - in the best sense - can be grasped and used by all women proudly. And the clear victory by Barrack Obama is special not only for it significance in this country's long battle with racism, but also for his inspiration of young and old, for providing disconnected and cynical people with hope. My sister mentioned to me that when she went to vote, there were 3 older gentlemen at the polling station voting for the first time in their lives. That is a beautiful thing. If you have not done so yet, watch both Obama's victory speech and McCain's gracious concession: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/us/politics/05elect.html?em. We can be proud of both men and be grateful that they continue to serve in our government. I have read some of the world's response to this election, and it's exciting. I am also proud of the good voter turn-out (68% by one poll - which would be the highest since 1908!). Thank you to all who voted (I voted absentee), and may we all stay connected - and hopeful - as the euphoria of election night fades and the harsh reality of our current situation faces us. We have a voice, let's not forget that.