Remember, Remember…
Today is Guy Fawkes’ Day in England. This Catholic-bashing holiday is not observed in America and the Father of Our Country is largely the reason why.
“As the Commander in Chief has been apprized of a design form’d for the observance of that ridiculous and childish custom of burning the Effigy of the pope – He cannot help expressing his surprise that there should be Officers and Soldiers in this army so void of common sense, as not to see the impropriety of such a step at this Juncture; at a Time when we are solliciting, and have really obtain’d, the friendship and alliance of the people of Canada, whom we ought to consider as Brethren embarked in the same Cause. The defence of the general Liberty of America: At such a juncture, and in such Circumstances, to be insulting their Religion, is so monstrous, as not to be suffered or excused; indeed instead of offering the most remote insult, it is our duty to address public thanks to these our Brethren, as to them we are so much indebted for every late happy Success over the common Enemy in Canada.”
Order in Quarters, November 5, 1775
– George Washington
After the election results of last night, for those of us on the losing side, it is good to remember just how wonderful a nation America truly is.
14 Responses to Remember, Remember…
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I don’t remember where I read this, but when I find it, I’ll post it, but I read that George Washington converted to the Catholic faith on his deathbed.
I’ll do some research to get more information on this. Just curious if any of our readers can supply some more information on this.
It would be nice if he had Tito, but the conversion story of Washington is merely a pious fable with no historical validity. A completely made up tale. However, throughout his life Washington was friendly to Catholics and contributed to the construction of a Catholic Church.
“Catholic Bashing”? or simply a tradition,harking back to a time when Catholic Plotters tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
As a Catholic I participate,I even build a guy with my children,but I don’t take it personally,because I don’t identify with Guido Fawkes and the plotters. I have no wish to bomb people.
Maybe you do?
Yes Catholic Bashing. Consider this charming traditional Guy Fawkes rhyme:
“A penny loaf to feed ol’ Pope.
A farthing cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down.
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar.
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head.
Then we’ll say ol’ Pope is dead.
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!”
As for Guy Fawkes and the other plotters they were attacking a state that had made their religion a criminal offense and executed priests who attempted to minister to faithful Catholics. I would rise in revolt against such a government in an instant.
Don’t listen to the dhimmi troll.
B.C.,
I would rise up as well. You’ve been dhimmitized by your Protestant Overlords.
I’m just happy he didn’t want to pick on us Canadians.
Good lesson for the new guy.
I love Canadians!
I’m just curious why PM Harper, of the ‘Conservative’ Party, is so bashful on dealing with life issues such as abortion and traditional marriage.
The plain truth is that a large part the Canadian electorate is paranoid about a hidden right wing agenda. Harpers’ Government is only in a minority situation in parliment and if he wants to survive he’ll have to wait and secure a majority position before he directly attacks life issues.
But even then, it may not hit his agenda.
If you think American Catholics don’t vote thier faith, Canadian Catholics are even less assertive. An entire generation threw in the towel.
The only ‘Catholic bashing’ bonfire night celebrations in Britain today are those in Lewes. But then they are also commemorating the seventeen Protestant martyrs burnt at the stake there. Throughout our history the Catholics have been persecutors as well as the persecuted. Bloody Mary had 300 Protestants burned at the stake due to their faith. If bonfire night is anti Catholic then the fourth of July is anti British. By the way I am C of E.
Comparing Guy Fawkes day to the Fourth of July is ludicrous. We did not have centuries following the Revolution during which English-Americans were discriminated against. Catholics in England during the reign of Bad Queen Bess had anti-Catholic law after anti-Catholic law heaped upon them. Catholics were not given full civil rights until the Catholic Relief Act in 1829. The Gordon riots in 1780 against the Papists Act of 1778 demonstrated the depth of anti-Catholic bigotry in England. Guy Fawkes Day is a legacy of bitter religious bigotry.
Well I certainly wouldn’t defend any of the monarchs from the House of Tudor who are, after all, known as the Terrible Tudors. It never ceases to amaze me how this one family has influenced English history so much. My religion is the product of a selfish and murderous womaniser called Henry VIII. His dissolution of the monasteries was the biggest criminal act of cultural destruction in our history. A visit to Fountains Abbey would bring tears to your eyes. Mary burnt Protestants and Elizabeth burnt Catholics. The roots of the British Empire lie with Elizabeth. The English Reformation was a bloody affair which resulted in the longstanding persecution of my fellow countrymen just because they looked towards Rome. I may be C of E but I don’t pray or go to Church and I think religion is a crock of ****. And Americans wonder why England is a post Christian society. Bonfire Night is a tradition and nothing more. If we lose this tradition because it’s not PC then what next, Remembrance Day, the Monarchy, Trooping the Colour?
Without Faith John what’s the point of tradition? I am a great believer in tradition but without Faith life is literally meaningless. The fact that some people have misused religion is no more an attack on Christianity than the fact that demagogues have misused democracy is an attack on democracy or the fact that some soldiers have committed atrocities is an attack on the legitimate role that the military plays as the guardian of society. In the last century we saw true post-Christian societies in the Soviet Union and in Nazi Germany and the results were horrific. I’ ll stand with Christ and good traditions.
http://proecclesia.blogspot.com/2006/02/in-honor-of-father-of-our-country-his.html
With regard to Donald’s comment … There seems to be ample evidence to believe that George Washington converted.