Kia ora Koutou,
Do we have to continue to celebrate Guy Fawkes? It’s a bizarre idea isn’t it? Teaching kids to celebrate the grisly day someone was burned to death because…?
Do we really have to frighten animals with all the banging, shouting, plus the garish lights of fireworks?
Do we have to put up with someone lighting fireworks every night after the fifth? Because they always do. Someone who waits till kids are asleep and then starts lighting bangers? Isn’t it enough that in many places in the world kids try to sleep through actual gunfire?
Maybe we could find something else to celebrate, something more inspiring? Maybe even celebrate the work of Rescue Teams in the mountains or bush perhaps? Maybe a Thank you to Nurses Day? Celebrate some action that enhances human life? Not an occasion when someone was killed for public enjoyment. Can you imagine laughing and cheering while watching someone burn to death in a fire? Maybe those who spend money on fireworks could give it to a charity that feeds kids who’ve been forced to run from their homes because of terrorist attacks?
Sometimes we inherit these celebrations and carry them on without much thought as to what we’re actually celebrating. Guy Fawkes planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament — he was caught and burned alive while people watched, sang, cheered. Other people this century have blown up buildings, killed, injured people peacefully going about their business — are we celebrating that? Do we light fireworks and sing songs and cheer to celebrate those who initiated 9/11? Of course not.
So why do we celebrate and burn fireworks in 2022 because someone was burned to death in 1605?
Maybe someone can enlighten me?
Renée
