"Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and
Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be
forgot..."
It's odd that I am quoting a British reference considering the fact that I despise their philosophy. Also, coming to India has significantly changed their culture much to the angst of several social groups. Personally, I feel that distinguishes the British from the Americans. On an other note, Americans hating the British culture is pointless, it should be Native Americans but that's probably just me. Anyway this quote is famous for two things. It might be arguably the most famous quote involving a date reference. Secondly, it talks about healthy terrorism.
It's more of a promise if you ask me. Now, I am not here to talk about V or Guy Fawkes if that's what you are here for. I am talking about the simplicity of the idea and the complex misinterpretations it may lead to. Also interpretations are not like opinions and I believe that an interpretation needs a context or many of them. It is bipolar, good or bad. Now that we have these ground rules established, I need you to look closely at the idea. It reminds of a time when revolution on a mass scale was needed to bring down the existing system and replace it with a new system. It talks about an idea of violence that is necessary to deal with the problem at hand and calls for a primal instinct of retaliation. It however, promises a hope of a new beacon of light that could supposedly come after solving the problem at hand. I just need you to know that you can not get any more of a bullshit reason than this one.
The idea itself proposes the arrival of a utopia that things change drastically that can always lead to good after a system changes. If you take the movie V for an example, the protagonist was hell-bent to tear down the corrupt society headed by a large evil conglomerate presided by a arsehole (wink to my British mates). Fine, at the end of the day, he played his cards right and somehow brought down an entire system symbolized by the fall of a particular building. Ever since falling of a building has been tabooed with a revolution, especially if it belongs to a government. Four years prior to that movie, in 2001, we saw a real event with the fall of two buildings. So, what is terrorism? Falling of buildings with killing innocent people who are by the feature of evolution adapted to cope with their environment to the point that they are forced to take advantage of the system while despising it? This leading to a syndrome where people are too adapted to the system that they begin to like it?
I agree on the part that it is too complicated to understand but bear with because I am about to break it down. Terrorism in its bear essence is synonymous with violence aimed at spreading an idea forcefully. Now, if you conquer lands and force the poor and the hungry to accept your philosophy in promise of food, that's blasphemy. You are not allowing the person to use his judgement of requirement. I am looking at you St. Xavier. And of course we have had our share of terror with Osama Bin Laden. Falling of buildings is just a reminder and doesn't work that well with common folk. It's more like a jumpscare to a polity than a horror. All I am saying is terrorists are idiots. They are like bacteria. They attack until an antibiotic is served and then well, they attack again. No, that's just a chase. Attack like a virus, now that's terror. It stays within, hides behind everything and doesn't reveal itself until you don't have a choice but to bear it. One noticeable thing is that it doesn't just die, it leaves a scar behind.
So, as far as the quote goes in order, it is terrorism. It just wants momentary violence and expects people to remember. It doesn't leave a scar and hence it needs to be repeated or in this case create a special reminder with a God damn date. It doesn't speak much to the consequences of an action or the sacrifices necessary to cope with the new environment. Take for an example, the case of Charlie Hebdo. In the name of freedom of speech, he desensitized a religious symbol. He could have given a disclaimer about it being purely journalistic and could have taken it back. Now, I am not sure about his choices or the person he was. I am not sure if he actually did that and I am ready to apologize for any misinformation. The point is that he was murdered before a fair analysis of a situation could be made and that's terror. It's a fear to be judged and punished before a plea could be made. Sorry for being insensitive but logically, he caused his own death through his actions.
From another perspective of the situation, the terrorists or the people who influenced them might well be smoking cigars and rest in their cozy little beds for what they have done. They are certainly not in favor of any remorse as far as criminal psychology goes. I mean come on, it wasn't a self defense or an accident. This assumption is fair for most of the cases. The consequence was the many people changed their facebook images and several notifications were passed to commemorate the brutality of the situation. The incident lead to people become more united, mostly french. Some people in Asia actually gave a damn about a European country that's not UK. Most of all people learnt or at least pretended to know the French phrase "Je suis Charlie". Lives moved on and since only one person was involved in a death, people care less about terrorism. It didn't make an impact. Why? because there was no point in killing a person. The incident of 9/11 was more with impact as it affected business and people alike. Majorly, it gave a sense of insecurity and communal hatred. If the spread of Islam was the point, they have missed it because Muslims in America lost their livelihood. If it had left a scar, Americans would have a holiday declared or would have given a name for a day like 'The fallen day' or 'Day of devil's stare' or something sinister. Instead we are stuck with a date. That just tells us that it is as important as our friend's birthday or it's passable or both as we take it.
Consider a situation in textbooks a decade from today. The topic of terrorism would be small and insignificant because we as a generation didn't involve an attention as much as it is needed. We integrated it as a part of our lives to not consider a life precious enough to commemorate. We failed to teach our kids that death is bad, especially when it has occurred due to a man's tyranny. Sure, the date may be important but how will the next generation remember it? We fear because we got impacted by it. We saw it and were alive to see it happen and the consequences that followed. For the next iteration of the great human evolution, it will just be another date. A date to be remembered just because we said so. Speaking of which, why is fifth of November so important and why do we need to remember it? If you are reading this, you might probably have encountered the date reference for the first time or are googling right now in a new tab. To you, I say, don't bother because no matter how much you try to know about it, it is just chaos in theory. The current solution may be to break down the existing system but one should consider the need and plan the next step before a radical step is taken. A promise is just an inspiration but without an action or a plan, a path that should accompany, it will be an idea, good or bad, that will lead to bad choices to a significant fraction.
On that note, remember to let this be a reminder to be responsible for the actions you take and until next time with a much boring topic,
Horopter.
It's odd that I am quoting a British reference considering the fact that I despise their philosophy. Also, coming to India has significantly changed their culture much to the angst of several social groups. Personally, I feel that distinguishes the British from the Americans. On an other note, Americans hating the British culture is pointless, it should be Native Americans but that's probably just me. Anyway this quote is famous for two things. It might be arguably the most famous quote involving a date reference. Secondly, it talks about healthy terrorism.
It's more of a promise if you ask me. Now, I am not here to talk about V or Guy Fawkes if that's what you are here for. I am talking about the simplicity of the idea and the complex misinterpretations it may lead to. Also interpretations are not like opinions and I believe that an interpretation needs a context or many of them. It is bipolar, good or bad. Now that we have these ground rules established, I need you to look closely at the idea. It reminds of a time when revolution on a mass scale was needed to bring down the existing system and replace it with a new system. It talks about an idea of violence that is necessary to deal with the problem at hand and calls for a primal instinct of retaliation. It however, promises a hope of a new beacon of light that could supposedly come after solving the problem at hand. I just need you to know that you can not get any more of a bullshit reason than this one.
The idea itself proposes the arrival of a utopia that things change drastically that can always lead to good after a system changes. If you take the movie V for an example, the protagonist was hell-bent to tear down the corrupt society headed by a large evil conglomerate presided by a arsehole (wink to my British mates). Fine, at the end of the day, he played his cards right and somehow brought down an entire system symbolized by the fall of a particular building. Ever since falling of a building has been tabooed with a revolution, especially if it belongs to a government. Four years prior to that movie, in 2001, we saw a real event with the fall of two buildings. So, what is terrorism? Falling of buildings with killing innocent people who are by the feature of evolution adapted to cope with their environment to the point that they are forced to take advantage of the system while despising it? This leading to a syndrome where people are too adapted to the system that they begin to like it?
I agree on the part that it is too complicated to understand but bear with because I am about to break it down. Terrorism in its bear essence is synonymous with violence aimed at spreading an idea forcefully. Now, if you conquer lands and force the poor and the hungry to accept your philosophy in promise of food, that's blasphemy. You are not allowing the person to use his judgement of requirement. I am looking at you St. Xavier. And of course we have had our share of terror with Osama Bin Laden. Falling of buildings is just a reminder and doesn't work that well with common folk. It's more like a jumpscare to a polity than a horror. All I am saying is terrorists are idiots. They are like bacteria. They attack until an antibiotic is served and then well, they attack again. No, that's just a chase. Attack like a virus, now that's terror. It stays within, hides behind everything and doesn't reveal itself until you don't have a choice but to bear it. One noticeable thing is that it doesn't just die, it leaves a scar behind.
So, as far as the quote goes in order, it is terrorism. It just wants momentary violence and expects people to remember. It doesn't leave a scar and hence it needs to be repeated or in this case create a special reminder with a God damn date. It doesn't speak much to the consequences of an action or the sacrifices necessary to cope with the new environment. Take for an example, the case of Charlie Hebdo. In the name of freedom of speech, he desensitized a religious symbol. He could have given a disclaimer about it being purely journalistic and could have taken it back. Now, I am not sure about his choices or the person he was. I am not sure if he actually did that and I am ready to apologize for any misinformation. The point is that he was murdered before a fair analysis of a situation could be made and that's terror. It's a fear to be judged and punished before a plea could be made. Sorry for being insensitive but logically, he caused his own death through his actions.
From another perspective of the situation, the terrorists or the people who influenced them might well be smoking cigars and rest in their cozy little beds for what they have done. They are certainly not in favor of any remorse as far as criminal psychology goes. I mean come on, it wasn't a self defense or an accident. This assumption is fair for most of the cases. The consequence was the many people changed their facebook images and several notifications were passed to commemorate the brutality of the situation. The incident lead to people become more united, mostly french. Some people in Asia actually gave a damn about a European country that's not UK. Most of all people learnt or at least pretended to know the French phrase "Je suis Charlie". Lives moved on and since only one person was involved in a death, people care less about terrorism. It didn't make an impact. Why? because there was no point in killing a person. The incident of 9/11 was more with impact as it affected business and people alike. Majorly, it gave a sense of insecurity and communal hatred. If the spread of Islam was the point, they have missed it because Muslims in America lost their livelihood. If it had left a scar, Americans would have a holiday declared or would have given a name for a day like 'The fallen day' or 'Day of devil's stare' or something sinister. Instead we are stuck with a date. That just tells us that it is as important as our friend's birthday or it's passable or both as we take it.
Consider a situation in textbooks a decade from today. The topic of terrorism would be small and insignificant because we as a generation didn't involve an attention as much as it is needed. We integrated it as a part of our lives to not consider a life precious enough to commemorate. We failed to teach our kids that death is bad, especially when it has occurred due to a man's tyranny. Sure, the date may be important but how will the next generation remember it? We fear because we got impacted by it. We saw it and were alive to see it happen and the consequences that followed. For the next iteration of the great human evolution, it will just be another date. A date to be remembered just because we said so. Speaking of which, why is fifth of November so important and why do we need to remember it? If you are reading this, you might probably have encountered the date reference for the first time or are googling right now in a new tab. To you, I say, don't bother because no matter how much you try to know about it, it is just chaos in theory. The current solution may be to break down the existing system but one should consider the need and plan the next step before a radical step is taken. A promise is just an inspiration but without an action or a plan, a path that should accompany, it will be an idea, good or bad, that will lead to bad choices to a significant fraction.
On that note, remember to let this be a reminder to be responsible for the actions you take and until next time with a much boring topic,
Horopter.
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