I hope none of my English Catholic readers takes offense - I wanted to acknowledge your National Holiday and say how much I enjoy having you all as visitors. I gather the anti-popery that sometimes comes with some people celebrating this occasion is tough to swallow - but, hopefully, in most circles that taint is off and people can just mark the day with thanks that they are a free nation. And it is in that spirit that I wish you all a Happy 5th!
I was reading Daniel Hannan's blog in the Daily Telegraph, the full thread of which you can see here. One commentator, Mark K., I think had a fascinating observation which I quote:
"PARALLEL TIMELINE 400 YEARS ON.
Here is food for thought, to show how this country has become more tolerant.
If the persecutions to which Catholics had been subjected for several centuries had been re-applied to Muslims today, this would be the result:
2005 Foiled Al-Qaeda plot to blow up parliament.
2006 on - Muslims forced to renounce faith, mosques closed down.
2007 New national holiday where a replica of Mecca and an effigy of Mohammed or an imam are burned in public.
2020-2050 Religious police to raid suspected Muslim homes and imprison any family harbouring imams.
2078 Laws against Muslims generally relaxed, but a hoax "Islamist Al Qaeda plot" whipped up by government leads to rioting in the streets and resurgence of anti-Islamic feeling. Test Act bars any Muslim from holding public office
2101 Act of Settlement Mark Two - no heir to the throne allowed to marry a Muslim.
2229 Repeal of Test Act - Muslims no longer barred from public office.
2250 Muslim Council of Britain re-established.
P.S. The brains behind the Gunpowder Plot was a very English gentleman, Robert Catesby."
Food for thought for sure!
