Geek Beach

Cartoon about beach holidays and wi-fi access for this week's CCGB competition.

Declaration of Independence

It's the 4th of July so here is another Independence Day cartoon drawn between long overdue DIY tasks.  Again apologies to any Americans or students of American history if I have not quite represented events as they occurred (my reference is the TV series John Adams).

History is always taken out of context and interpreted by modern readers accordng to their culture and sensibilities.  Therefore it is often possible to read more into documents like the Declaration of Independence and the English and Scottish equivalents the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Arbroath than the authors intended.  They are all significant documents that put their authors and signatories in danger but only in hindsight can they be viewed as the birth certificates of their respective countries.

The forefathers of modern free, democratic citizens were not like us.  They were rich and powerful elites, nobles, barons, business men not all elected by the people they represented.  As societies became more complex families gave way to tribes with chieftains who formed nations with kings.  Then as kings realised their power was dependant on the rich nobles below them who owned land and resources parliaments and assemblies were formed where both parties struggled for supremacy.  Even when the parliaments gained the upper hand it took centuries before officials were elected by the whole population and not just those of a certain status, wealth, gender or colour.

These documents were a product of the politics of their times and the grievances of a few powerful men against their rulers King George III, King John or Edward I.  Some achieved their aims while other interest us as we look back at the history of nations to see when the first sparks of independence began.

Finally in case I have slighted Abigail Adams by dragging her into a cartoon about domestic DIY I should address the issue of the rights of women.  Robert Burns wrote a poem called The Rights Of Women which is apt here.  Here is the first verse:

While Europe's eye is fix'd on mighty things,
The fate of empires and the fall of kings;
While quacks of state must each produce his plan,
And even children lisp the Rights of Man;
Amid this mighty fuss just let me mention,
The Rights of Woman merit some attention.

Bonfire Night: A Counter-Terrorism Celebration




"You can't even carry a barrel around these days since that Guy!"

 Tonight is Bonfire, Fireworks or Guy Fawkes Night a strange UK custom that dates back from November 5th 1605 when a plot to assasinate the first monarch to rule over the newly formed union of England and Scotland was foiled.  Guy Fawkes was the plotter found underneath the House of Lords with 36 barrels of gunpowder after an anonymous tip-off.  The plotters were all hanged and in celebration a law was passed in Parliment that the 5th of November was to observed with special services and sermons.  That act may no longer be in place but we still celebrate the 5th with bonfires and fireworks that some inconsiderate people are still letting off late into the night.

I find it odd that this day is still remains in our calendar, that we still want to burn in effigy a Catholic terrorist who plans for a spectacular failed.  Today we are fed regular reports of failed terrorist plots none of which merit a holiday merely more inconvience when we do go on holiday.  It is tempting to compare Islamic terrorists today with what todays media would label a Catholic Fundamentalist cell but it is too easy to fall into the trap of rewriting history to try and present a completely foriegn world as something modern.

My Guy Fawkes cartoon doesn't try and make light of the horrors that terrorists plan but rather observe that the main effect it has on us is the measures we have to put in place to prevent it.

For a lighter take on Bonfire Night Matt's cartoon today is excellant.