Guy Fawkes Day

“Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason and plot,
I know of no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.”
- British Rhyme

If you saw the movie V or read the graphic novel of the same name you'll recall the mask worn by the leading character V. It is a Guy Fawkes mask which is worn on November 5 and burned in effigy in some British commonwealth countries.
Americans may think terrorism is new or started with 9-11, but in fact terrorism is quite old. Here is just one example from 403 years ago today. On 5 November 1605 a number of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, England. The plot intended to kill the king, James the 1st, his family, and most of the Protestant aristocracy in a single attack by blowing up the Houses of Parliament during the State Opening. Gunpowder was placed within the parliament but Guy was captured before it was exploded.

Bottom Line
I find it dismaying that so many Americans forget 9-11 so easily. They think it a one time fluke that won't be repeated. As a New Yorker I know that 9-11 was the SECOND terrorist attack on the World Trade center. Eight years earlier a van filled with explosives blew up in the parking garage in the basement of one the towers. I also served as a juror in a case linked to the "Millennium Bomber" whose mission was to leave a suitcase bomb in the crowded LAX (Los Angeles) Airport in 2000.
America has been very fortunate to see so little terrorism in its 232 years. But we can not rely on luck alone. Stay prepared.