It's bonfire night 2011 and we are still making one hell of a row about an event 406 years ago. why? money? tradition? anti-Catholicism? boredom ?
The cons surely outweigh the pros. Extra strain on the emergency services, wasted public money on displays and let's not forget the annoyance of the less enlightened members of our communities setting fireworks off before the end of August.
So you think I'm a curmudgeon? You're not far wrong. I enjoyed the night as a kid as much as any other 10 year old, but times have changed. We now rush out to buy fireworks for new year, weddings, christenings, new hairdos and the hamster's birthday. A bit of education on the history of all this "let's burn Guy Fawkes" wouldn't go amiss either.
Yes Mr Fawkes was a 17th century 'terrorist' if you like but are we all now shouting for "penny for the terrorists"?! Our sensitivities wouldn't allow this of course but burning an effigy of a Catholic .. err.. guy from over 400 years ago is fair play. If we have to have a "special" fireworks night then can we have it in memory of something a bit more worthwhile?
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