I've just seen a tweet regarding an event in Ripon where they intend to replace the traditional Guy Fawkes effigy with one of Gordon Brown, much to the disgust of a young Labour supporting twitterer I follow who described the idea as "vile".
I don't see anything wrong in it myself. There are many examples in the past of having contemporary political figures for effigies on bonfire night (Thatcher, Major, Blair, Bush etc.). No one is suggesting we burn the real person to death, it's just a symbolic gesture after all... isn't it?
But this year, isn't there even more reason to replace Fawkes with a modern day political figure? This is the year of the expenses scandal and our political establishment has never been held in such low esteem. Given that Guy Fawkes intended to blow up the Houses of Parliament, and the disdain with which many now view its modern day inhabitants, he must be seen as a positive hero!
Mind you, it wasn't held in high regard before "expensegate". New Labour's culture of spin, dishonesty, cronyism and sleaze made sure of that. So I can't think of anyone more deserving of a symbolic roasting than Gordon Brown.
Link to Ripon's Gordo effigy bonfire night: Ripon Gazette
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, October 30, 2009
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