Turn out! Turn out your Milita…The fate of a nation was riding that night.
Despite the weather men promising rain this weekend the weather has been absolutely glorious. The sky has been a pleasant shade of blue, and the temperature, while not hot has been nice enough to make being outside enjoyable. As such I have endeavored to make the most of it.
Saturday morning was spent running- again outside around the Back Bay, I have discovered a route of approximately 1.3 miles which means I can run laps, which I like, but it isn’t too repetitive. When the Red Sox are at home though I do have to battle with about 20,000 making their way toward Fenway Park; ideal for people watching, if a little inconvenient, but it keeps my route interesting. They have been playing at home for nine days straight now, which has also prompted me to repeated think about- although not actually get around to- buying tickets. I do however; get a kick out of how “American” it all is. This week I was out a bit later than usual and I could see people standing in the top tiers of Fenway Park, the flood lights had come on and were lighting up the surrounding area, the flag was flying, I could hear the announcer and the cheers of the crowd, the smell of the concessions stands, and off to my left a college party was taking place in the park- it was a huge OMG “This IS my life” moment…
By the afternoon I was ready for a bit of R and R, so headed off to Newbury Street for a little retail therapy and girl time. Well I was actually just planning on the girl time, but I accidentally fell into Barnes and Noble and Anthropologie so inadvertently ended up spending money. Then again money spent in a book store is never a mistake and will all be put to good use broadening my mind and making me a better person, I also browsed a few books about day trips and insiders notes on Boston- jotted some ideas down and failed to purchase the book- so much more convenient than the library, and they provide coffee while you browse- something more libraries really should consider. The dress will in no way broaden my mind or my horizons, and is quite different to things I usually buy- but I am trying to be slightly more experimental and less boring when it comes to clothes- buy one or two items slightly outside of my comfort zone- so I still have reservations, but it will go with a great pair of red shoes I have, and is perfect for the party next week (unless of course it rains)…
I did also manage to get round to getting a pedicure too- which was the entire reason I was heading out anyway- that and the thought of grabbing lunch as the Cheesecake Factory on my way past.
Sunday was much more relevant to the quote at the top of the page, and I am back to local history again and the ride of Paul Revere. This week I decided to head out to Lexington and Concord (so often joined together) where the first shot of the revolution was fired. Having really enjoyed the colonial sites in Virginia and the South recently I have made the War of Independence a pet project of mine. (If I do ever get around to a PhD the topic will be – “George Washington- A General not up to the task” as far as I can see he benefitted from luck due to circumstances beyond his control and a sometimes inept and often uninterested British force.) I have no doubt that the overall outcome would be the same, but I am not a huge believer in Washington’s skill as a commander. As I can gab away, at great length, on my theories and ideas about the war in general I was quite excited about the trip out today.
Maybe because, in colonial times, the people of Boston and Cambridge had enjoyed a greater autonomy from the control of Britain, maybe because they had already set up a form of self government with the Town Meeting, or maybe because they had made great strides in developing free thinking and education (Boston Latin the first US secondary school, and Harvard the first University) freedom and the War of Independence is taken very seriously here. The National Park Service in charge of the visitor center in Lexington, and my experience with them in Virginia was of a very balanced, historically documented view. However, this was not the case today. As ever they had a great display of information boards, an entertaining 3D documentary, and park rangers who were more than helpful providing tours and answering questions. In fact as I walked from Lexington to Concord they even had “living history” guides in costume outside various points in order to answer questions and talk more about life in colonial Boston, however- the view presented- in my opinion was a VERY heavily biased one. From the beginning the British troops were presented as an occupying force, no mention was made of the French/Indian War (1754-1763) which would explain the reason behind the taxes and the troops, the Boston Massacre was explained away as British brutality, and of course a small unarmed band of militia found themselves defending their wives and children from the well armed Redcoats. Huge chunks of documented evidence was left out- however, they are very proud of their history here in the North East, and as people the world over know, the victors get to write the history books. As has been pointed out to me, I didn’t fight in the battle, I didn’t even get to command the troops (although I do happen think I would have made a great job of doing so), so I really shouldn’t take this at all personally. I am however convinced that the American Nation needed a creation myth on which to build a foundation, and as with any new nation it was in a perilous condition to start with had to establish a common thread of patriotism and greatness, hence the reason so many events in the chain are not acknowledge, the French and Dutch don’t even get a look in, and yet they are acknowledged in primary sources as being a turning point in American favor, British policies at home are not even considered and yet had a major impact on the outcome… I am very aware that I am now in danger of sounding like a badly written A’ level essay so I will just sum up by saying that the Minute Man National Park was a picturesque 5 mile walk between Lexington and Concord that followed the route of the battle. It is a well preserved trail that is sign posted as you pass the remnants of the musketry, a few preserved houses, and some bullet holes. As the British troops retreated from Concord and the Patriots (or maybe I should stick to rebels as it was 1775 and I am feeling a touch controversial and argumentative this week) they lost 270 soldiers to ambushes in the woods. This was something the American Militia became very adept at during the course of the war, and a tactic they had a lot of success with. My point however, was the touchingly made memorial at the roadside- check out the picture, and if you are so inclined the flag…
Anyway, I am aware that I have slipped back into C grade essay mode, so I will now stop writing, but not before I mention William Dawes and Samuel Prescott who accompanied Paul Revere on his ride, didn’t get caught, and actually managed to inform Middlesex County of what was about to take place… yet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow never mentions on them and thus history forgets them; I just feel sorry that no school child can name them without a cheat sheet.
