a circled red “v” on the president’s door

There was a little mention in the “Ann Arbor News” today that a circled red “V” was painted on the door of the University of Michigan President’s house Monday night. Here’s the entire account:

A red “V” was spray-painted on the front door of the President’s House at the University of Michigan sometime overnight Monday, police said.
Officers on patrol spotted the graffiti on the front storm door of the residence at 815 S. University Ave. from the roadway just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, said. U-M Police Lt. Bob Neumann.

The graffiti was estimated at 3 feet by 3 feet and consisted of a “V” with a circle around it, Neumann said. It was the only marking on the property.
Clean-up cost was estimated at $100.

So, do you see it?

Hmmmm?

I know I can’t be the only one.

It apparently slipped by the police and the press, but note the date… Monday, November 5… Do you get it now?

Surely some of you have read the comic book or seen the film “V for Vendetta.” Remember how it revolved around the story of Guy Fawkes, the radical Catholic who attempted to blow up the English House of Parliament in 1604? Well, November 5 – the day this act of vandalism occurred in Ann Arbor – is Guy Fawkes Night, the British holiday marking the apprehension of the old-school religious terrorist. And the circled red “V” is the emblem of the protagonist in “V for Vendetta,” who took inspiration from the gunpowder plot of Fawkes and his collaborators.

Here’s the old English rhyme commemorating the event.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
To blow up King and Parli’ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

And here’s something I didn’t know until just now… The Ron Paul for President campaign recently took on the Guy Fawkes meme and made it their own. Here’s a clip from an article in the “New York Times“:

…Many fans of Mr. Paul know of the day primarily through a movie based on the futuristic graphic novel “V for Vendetta,” by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, in which a terrorist modeled after Fawkes battles a fascist government that has taken over Britain.

The Paul campaign has raised more than $6.84 million in the first five weeks of this quarter, more than the $5 million it raised from July 1 to Oct. 1. Many of the contributions appeared to come through the independent Fawkes effort, but how much was unclear.

On Monday alone, the campaign signed up more than 21,000 new donors…

So, what does it all mean? I don’t know. I am, however, almost certain that there was more to this Ann Arbor incident than just simple vandalism. It could just be a rabid fanboy paying homage to Natalie Portman (who was in the film version of “V”), but there’s a chance that the President’s door wasn’t chosen by accident. My guess is we’ve got a person out there who feels as though, by painting the symbol, he’s pointing out fascism. Or, maybe it was just a Ron Paul fanatic who felt the uncontrollable need to celebrate his or her candidate’s record-breaking $4.2 million fundraising day.

And if you’re not clear on the connection between Fawkes and Paul, it seems as though it’s kind of a metaphor. Fawkes attempted to blow up what he thought was an evil government, and Paul is trying to do the same to a corrupt White House. (At least this is what I gather from my brief research.) Of course, Fawkes was caught and put to death… I guess the Paul folks didn’t think it through that far… And then there’s that thing about Fawkes being a terrorist… Still, it was an interesting gambit, and it brought in lots of cash.

And then there’s the other explanation. Drunk fratboy gets handed paintbrush and pointed toward President’s door.

If I were the President of UM, just to be safe, I’d put a Ron Paul sign in my yard, denounce fascism, and hope for the best.