iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Neal Romanek @nromanek.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Doing a project involving Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night which from early days was an explicitly anti-Catholic holiday. It travelled to the US. In 1775, some colonials, angry Canada had granted rights to Catholics, were itching to burn effigies of the Pope. Gen. George Washington had something to say:

As the Commander in Chief has been apprized of a design form'd for the observance of that ridiculous and childish custom of burning the Effigy of the pope—He cannot help expressing his surprise that there should be Officers and Soldiers in this army so void of common sense, as not to see the impropriety of such a step at this Juncture; at a Time when we are solliciting, and have really obtain'd, the friendship and alliance of the people of Canada, whom we ought to consider as Brethren embarked in the same Cause. The defence of the general Liberty of America: At such a juncture, and in such Circumstances, to be insulting their Religion, is so monstrous, as not to be suffered or excused; indeed instead of offering the most remote insult, it is our duty to address public thanks to these our Brethren, as to them we are so much indebted for every late happy Success over the common Enemy in Canada

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Neal Romanek @nromanek.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

You can't help but feel some nausea-inducing disorientation at the first American president's insistence on good manners, neighborliness with a *British* colony, responsibility, self-restraint, careful politics, and an insistence that the people under him not act like children.

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Neal Romanek @nromanek.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

To clarify, the colonial soldiers' horniness to burn papal effigies was specifically due to Quebec's protection of Catholics. Quebec had become a part of Canada about ten years earlier.

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