On 12 Feb 2009 at 10:37am Mark Thompson wrote:
I've just re-read Antonia Fraser's book on the Gunpowder Plot, thus I was moved to visit the Lewes website. Frankly I'm amazed that this offensive anachronism is allowed to continue. In the 2007 photos banners bearing the legend 'no popery' clearly appear and burning crosses are paraded throught the streets. Whilst in the most recent, 2008 photos, burning crosses appear to mounted on some sort of rostrum or platform. These displays of bigotry are a offence to all right thinking people and should be halted immediately. I'm Cof E and live in Corfu and find your 'bonfire' grossly offensive.
No doubt supporters of the 'bonfire' will say that it's just a 'bit of fun' and no offence is intended. However what if the banners contained remarks about the ethnic community and a star of David was burnt?
On 12 Feb 2009 at 10:50am Lewes Laugher wrote:
As you choose to leave England in March 2007 to live in Corfu it's probably best if you don't involve yourself in what we do in Lewes. And your note to The Times about Blair converting to Catholicism was a bit cheap, wasn't it?
'Surely following the Nobel Peace prize for settling of the all problems of the middle east and as a result of his conversion to Rome 'Tone' has his 'eyes on the prize' that is the top job at the Vatican!
Mark Thompson, Corfu, Greece'
On 12 Feb 2009 at 11:08am Enoch wrote:
Mark you obviously have no idea!! Reading a book and looking at a few photos does not give a full and concised picture of what bonfire is all about. I guess you think the crosses relate to the Klu Klux Klan!!!! You can't even get the date right! As you live in Corfu, I do not see how what we do in our little town affects you. If you had been to Lewes on Bonfire Night and spoken to those taking part and found them to be religious bigots you would be entitled to your say but as you clearly have not, it is best to keep your ill founded opinions to yourself because you are just making yourself look stupid.
On 12 Feb 2009 at 11:09am Spongebob wrote:
Oh great, another politically correct clown who thinks that when he speaks, he speaks for EVETYONE.
Jog on son, you've had your 5 minutes of fame.
On 12 Feb 2009 at 11:59am KENDO CASTER wrote:
People like you really p---s me off, and probably a lot more people to, i thought the DFL were bad enough, now the complaining has gone global. you and me are entitled to freedom of speech, so im saying DONT MOAN ABOUT SOMETHING YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH.
On 12 Feb 2009 at 12:16pm FA wrote:
No work fella ?
On 12 Feb 2009 at 1:33pm Toque wrote:
If you're grossly offended, then don't come. Simple solution for a simpleton.
On 12 Feb 2009 at 1:40pm Commuter wrote:
well since there is no bonfire on 11th Nov, what is your problem Mark?
On 12 Feb 2009 at 1:48pm bonfirek wrote:
What do you know living in Corfu?! It's none of your business so go to hell!
On 12 Feb 2009 at 1:50pm dave2 wrote:
Hi Mark I'm sorry to say this but you aint never gonna win this argument on here!
but feel free to meet up in person with many of us locals who celebrate this event we always find Nov 11th a bit mad so we hold a much smaller event
on Nov 5th each year seems a date we all can remember?
shall we say about 7pm outside the crown hotel if you bring a flag with I'm anti bonfire so we can find you so you dont wonder up and down the high street getting lost all night trust me we will give you a very warm and loud welcome
kind regards
Dave
On 12 Feb 2009 at 2:37pm Frak wrote:
Burn him!!!
On 12 Feb 2009 at 2:55pm Musher wrote:
The funny thing is Mark, whiners are an important part of Bonfire, if Bonfire ever stops winding people like you up, there will be something seriously wrong with it!
On 12 Feb 2009 at 3:06pm Retired Archbishop wrote:
The book is an incredibly one sided account and as such could not be regarded as academically sound.
On 12 Feb 2009 at 3:13pm Toque wrote:
He's probably grossly offended by Geert Wilders too. I'm truly thankful for all these people who take offence on my behalf and ban things - so I don't have to be offended or decide for myself what is offensive or whether or not I want to debate the issue in question using my own moral judgement. There are things in the world that are *actually* offensive: starving children, war, genocide. Lewes Bonfire is not one of those things.
On 12 Feb 2009 at 6:43pm To be honest... wrote:
At least 50% of the people involved in the bonfire these days aren't even from Lewes! I was born and bred here and have never found the attraction myself although I have been involved with a lot of bonfire people in other ways. There are an awful lot of bigots in the societies but fortunately there are also a lot of people that do just get involved for the fun of it.
The 'No Popery' banners used to have the dates on as it was only the Pope at the time of the Gunpowder plot that they wanted burnt (apparently). I'm not sure why they took the dates off but I thought they had put them back on now?
About 20 years ago there was interest from the Orange Lodge, and I also remember everyone worrying about being a target from the IRA on Bonfire night, so yes there is an obvious religious element about it although newcomers may not know about that.
On 12 Feb 2009 at 10:01pm Lopster wrote:
Toque you are spot on - Mark pleae return to this site and feel free to comment and develop your argument - or maybe we'll see you on the 5th - Corfu must be so stimulating - your initials are SOOO appropriate - MT as in HEAD!!
On 12 Feb 2009 at 10:14pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
"The funny thing is Mark, whiners are an important part of Bonfire, if Bonfire ever stops winding people like you up, there will be something seriously wrong with it!"
Well said, Musher. Now, who can get a pic of Mark Thompson so his effigy can be among this year's enemies? Let's at least give him something personal to complain about.
I love people who get filled with indignation about stuff they've never seen or heard, only read about in the Daily Mail or some biased book.
On 12 Feb 2009 at 10:45pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
I rather like the idea of an illuminated Star of David - I wonder if Cor-Phew BS could take this forward?
On 13 Feb 2009 at 10:16am bonfirek wrote:
I like the idea of an illuminated ex-pat!
On 13 Feb 2009 at 8:25pm Northern bigot wrote:
Mark Thompson now self appointed spokesman for "all right thinking people", i always doubtindividuals who claim to speak on behalf of others unless they have been elected so! I to am CofE, or christmas and easter as we used to call it re our occasional visits! The Pope, 2 years ago said the Church of England and other Protestant churches were not churches in the "proper sense! " Did i mount a one man vigil outside St Pancras or hand out leaflets!
Did i scream bigotry at this suggestion of second class christianity for all those that are not RC! Its his opinion thats all! These days matters of opinion are becoming matters of law and its worrying! Lewes bonfire is about taking the urine out of political and religious figures and others bestowed with superiority complexes for just one day a year! Not much considering we have to put up with them on the other 364 days! If we havent heard enough from Greece with Nana and Demis!!! And no we wont be returning the Elgin Marbles!