Tonight, I’ve been enjoying the debut of the History Channel’s “America – The Story of Us”. I’ve enjoyed many of the documentaries, particularly about the Revolutionary years and the birth of our nation.

I’ve written about the courage of the Founding Fathers before. The willingness to stand up for our “Natural rights”, to state with conviction that Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are things that can not be denied by man or by government. Such courage is a rare thing of power and inspiration.

I did find it a bit ironic that at the same time (during commercial breaks), I flipped between the History Channel and “V for Vendetta”, a movie that is about an anarchical hero who stands up against a government that is oppressive. About 20 minutes into the movie, “V” talks about why he is fighting and issues a call for the people of London to take action on November 5th.

The next time we will see a November 5th comes shortly after the next general election. The next time we will witness a November 5th, it will be three days after some potentially amazing things have occurred in the State of Michigan.

Here’s to those of us who are looking forward to those changes, those of us who are looking forward to the exercise of our voices at the ballot box, and those of us who want to make sure that “… fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words – they are perspectives”

Youtube has the video of “V”‘s speech at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n631x7FWlcc.

But if you’re like me and want to read the speech, here it is (written by Andy Wachowski & Larry Wachowski, from characters created by Alan Moore & David Lloyd):

Good Evening, London. Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of the everyday routine, the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration – whereby those important events of the past, usually associated with someone’s death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, are celebrated with a nice holiday – I thought we could mark this November the fifth, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat. There are, of course, those who do not want us to speak. I suspect that even now orders are being shouted into telephones and men with guns will soon be on their way.

Why?

Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country isn’t there? Cruelty and injustice … intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance, coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission.

How did this happen? Who’s to blame? Well certainly there are those who are more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable. But again, truth be told … if you’re looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror.

I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn’t be? War. Terror. Disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you and in your panic, you turned to the now High Chancellor Adam Sutler. He promised you order. He promised you peace. And all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent.

Last night, I sought to end that silence. Last night, I destroyed the Old Bailey to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago, a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words – they are perspectives.

So if you’ve seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then I would suggest that you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked.

But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek … then I ask you to stand beside me, one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament. And together, we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever, be forgot!