Many of you have no doubt heard of the cult classic movie, "V for Vendetta." I'd just like to take this momentous November the Fifth to talk about Guy Fawkes, the movie, and how it relates to what we're doing today, in case there are some remain unaware. 

Guy Fawkes was a man who in 1605 attempted to blow up the House of Parliament in England. England at the time was ruled by a Protestant aristocracy that was discriminating harshly against Catholics. So, he took a wagon filled with gun powder beneath the chamber of parliament, where he was discovered, arrested, and hanged for treason. However, November the Fifth has been forever marked by the memory of a man who tried and failed to overthrow an abusive aristocratic autocracy.

Much more recently, there was a comic book series and eventually a movie called "V for Vendetta." I'll try not to reveal too much about the plot. Basically, the protagonist is an anonymous character named V, who essentially emulates Guy Fawkes by wearing a mask designed to look like Fawkes. He goes around attempting to spark a revolution against the totalitarian state in Britain. The central theme to the story is revealed through the quote, "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."

While certainly, no one in the liberty movement advocates blowing up government buildings, I think it would be a terrible mistake to ignore such a fantastic holiday. Guy Fawkes understood the danger of the government dictating people's religious views, and the creators of "V for Vendetta" do an excellent job in communicating the dangers of big government, as well as the need for there to be checks and balances to protect against tyranny.

So what do we do about it? Well there's a variety of ways we can use this holiday to spread freedom. I've personally made changes to my Facebook profile and littered it with quotes from the movie (excellent quotes if I do say so myself), which is an easy way to start. Other people have gone around wearing Guy Fawkes masks demonstrating 1st Amendment rights, while others have gone so far as to gather and protest on November the Fifth to make a point to elected officials. Whatever the way, whatever the form, ultimately let's not waste this November the Fifth, and let it have some impact on our country in the name of liberty.  

Vi Veri Universum Vivus Vici
By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.