Bahrain Bans The Import Of Guy Fawkes Masks
from the building-a-martyr dept
No longer simply a clever story mechanic in a comic book, the Guy Fawkes mask featured in the film V For Vendetta is now a universal symbol of dissent. That dissent was depicted in the film to be primarily targeting overbearing governments and is also the reason many of the real world wearers don it. The very point of the mask, to me, is to at once remain anonymous while also breed solidarity with all who wear it. It says that the wrong being done is being done against all. In that way, the mask has become as sweet as it is admittedly creepy.
Aaaaaaaaaah!
Image source: CC BY 2.0
It's the fact that the point behind the mask was solidarity against oppression that made Dubai's move to outlaw the masks so misguided. But they are no longer the only nation to do so. Bahrain has now banned the import of the masks, trying desperately to stave off a 2-years running protest movement. The ban came from the country's commerce department, because apparently they don't think that masks can be made by their citizens. As The Independent noted:
Sadly, though, it is but a mask. And the thing about a masks is, you can print them, paint them or draw them yourself. Unless the minister plans to ban all such activity it seems an action as futile as the real Guy Fawkes's.Not so much futile, in my opinion, as mega-back-firing. Bahrain has now perfectly exemplified an oppressive government by taking action against the symbol of resistance to that oppression. If they thought the masks bred solidarity, I'm guessing they haven't seen anything yet.
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Filed Under: activism, anonymous, bahrain, free speech, guy fawkes, protests
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The point was that who was under the Guy Fawkes mask didn't matter: V was everyone. V was an idea. "And ideas are bulletproof."
Banning the importation of these masks is the ultimate in shortsighted stupidity. It only draws more attention to the idea under the mask, and will just make things worse...
Besides, if you're going to be a good police state, let them be imported and track the purchases. Then disappear whoever buys them. Yeesh. Way to fail at being an evil, oppressive regime, Bahrain.
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Think of all the little Bahrain children that will be employed in slave like conditions because of this ruling.
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Inoculation
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Bahrain has pulled even worse stupidity in pure paranoia, like making their own coins with the central square in their capital illegal because it could remind protesters of freedom! This is just another move away from "democracy and freedom" towards a brutal and secluded dictatorship.
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Attention, Bahranian novelty shops...
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USA, USA, USA
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Re: USA, USA, USA
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We only spread democracy to countries that don't sell us oil.
Just look at our good friends Saudi Arabia.
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Easy to circumvent
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Re: Easy to circumvent
then I read about time warner owning the right to the mask (from the movie) so question what kind of infringement you'd get don for.
good incentive to come up with a public domain version.
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Headline
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It reminds me of the US getting all freaked out with the masks too back when Occupy Wall Street was gaining momentum.
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Shipping to Bahrain
I had a GREAT experience using that company and wanted to share with all brothers if you are bringing Bulletproof vehicles.
See below
http://usgshipping.com/index.php/asia/shipping-to-middle-east/shipping-to-bahrain-from-us
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The Last Word
“The point was that who was under the Guy Fawkes mask didn't matter: V was everyone. V was an idea. "And ideas are bulletproof."
Banning the importation of these masks is the ultimate in shortsighted stupidity. It only draws more attention to the idea under the mask, and will just make things worse...
Besides, if you're going to be a good police state, let them be imported and track the purchases. Then disappear whoever buys them. Yeesh. Way to fail at being an evil, oppressive regime, Bahrain.