Join Holly as she searches east Auckland for love and connection.
In which Holly is just so over Guy Fawkes.
If I’m honest, I’ve never understood why we celebrate a failed political assassination.
What’s the appeal? To glorify political violence? To terrify pets? To pollute the air? To needlessly test the mettle of our hardworking Fire and Emergency members?
Some, no doubt, will argue that it’s about celebrating a triumph over terrorism.
I’d argue that half a world away, after 420 years, we could find something more worthy and relevant to celebrate.
I’m all for dissent, when it’s peaceful and purposeful, but no part of the Guy Fawkes story, from the original crime to the modern tradition of burning effigies, conveys peace.
I guess, Reader, that I’m just an old-fashioned hippy at heart.
Still, as much as I advocate for peace and love, I believe the way to achieve these is through action.
Peace and love don’t just happen. Peace needs to be co-created and, in the words of Massive Attack, love, love is a verb, love is a doing word.
Peace and love are hard yakka. A parent works hard and makes sacrifices for their child.
Good partners work hard at understanding their partner, instead of simply trying to win the argument of the moment.
A community member works hard at their chosen form of service.
This includes locals who recently stepped up to serve our communities as elected officials.
Reader, as your friendly neighbourhood kinkster (who can assure you that there are many wonderful ways to make use of a phallus) I think that the most pointless employment of a “sideways cactus” is as a billboard decoration.
This lazy vandalism is the opposite of peaceful and purposeful dissent.
Much like the tradition of Guy Fawkes, I see it as both inconsiderate and irrelevant.
In a world of blistering division, shouldn’t we celebrate the hard work we’ve put in for peace?
Here in New Zealand, we have a perfect alternative for commemorating Guy Fawkes: Parihaka Day.
On November 5, 1881, government troops invaded the settlement of Parihaka.
Soldiers were met by singing children bearing gifts of food.
This instance of non-violent resistance was both a shining and shameful point in New Zealand’s history – one that many believe is deserving of greater recognition.
Yet, outside of the Taranaki region, the name Guy Fawkes is more familiar to many people than the name Te Whiti o Rongomai.
I don’t know about you, Reader, but this November 5, I’ll be celebrating Parihaka Day with random acts of kindness, and I’ll be keeping the fireworks for the bedroom.
Email holly@times.co.nz
Yours in love,
Holly
