We Are the Minute Men of Our Times
Published July 04, 2006
In the Concord Hymn, Emerson wrote a moving and effective memorial for the citizen militia who a generation or so before had defended the North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts and repulsed multiple assaults by larger British forces to delay those soldiers so that their efforts to seize colonial armories could be thwarted. Emerson isn't my favorite poet, but his connection to that place and time gave him a special perspective on the events at Concord and the first verse of the hymn is particularly good at summing up the commitment and accomplishment of those few, brave men.
| The Concord Hymn
By the rude bridge that arched the flood, |
Those 'embattled farmers' were just the common men of the time, willing to take up arms and defend their homes and their rights against an oppressive enemy with superior forces, superior training and superior firepower. Outgunned and outmanned, they could not be outfought. The very land they stood on gave them strength because they fought to defend their homes and for no gain or glory or king's coin.
The 'shot heard round the world' which was fired by their rifles in defiance of the British government was truly remarkable, because armies around the world had fallen before those supremely disciplined troops in their red uniforms and yet driven primarily by issues of principle, these simple men were willing to stand up to the lead wall of the volleys of trained British muskets and offer their lives if necessary 'to die, and leave their children free'.
Others in America and around the world heard that shot and answered its call and came to offer themselves to the cause of freedom. Some came great distances to fight for principle on behalf of people they had never met, like Casimir Pulaski and Wilhelm von Steuben — enemies in the continental wars of Frederick the Great who fought on the same side for America. Others came to share their ideas and leadership, like Thomas Paine who served best with his pen rather than his sword.
Dave Nalle has been a magazine editor, freelance writer, capitol hill staffer, game designer and taught college history for many years. He is a Liberty Republican and former Libertarian. He now designs fonts for a living and lives with his family and pets just outside Austin. You can find his writings on politics and culture at Republic of Dave and works on designs and fonts at The Scriptorium.
- We Are the Minute Men of Our Times
- Published: July 04, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Politics
- Filed Under: Culture: History, Culture: Holidays and Traditions, Politics: Law and Rights, Politics: U.S.
- Writer: Dave Nalle
- Dave Nalle's BC Writer page
- Dave Nalle's personal site
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You might want to make sure they're loaded with blanks. I sometimes fire off black powder pistols without balls on the 4th. Much fun.
Dave
Hell, instead of fireworks let's all take our guns out and fire them in the air like they do in the middle east.
They do that here in Miami every holiday, and not with blanks, either.
People get killed by falling rounds fairly often.
Scares the crap out of me.
Dave,
Your article beautifully expresses the real significance of the day.
Thank you.
"Freedom is not free."
Indeed.
I'm not a fan of the "freedom is not free" cliche, but you have a good overall point--and if even one or two readers were moved to be more conscious of oil consumption or to pay closer attention to politics by virtue of your writing, that'd be a good result.
Yes, I know the article is loaded with cliches. That's the nature of the beast. I've got another 4th of July article, but I'm on the road and probably won't be able to post it until tomorrow.
Rather cool stuff. We went and saw a CAF B-17 bomber and I got some cool photos.
Dave
We went and saw a CAF B-17 bomber and I got some cool photos.
Dave, A CAF B17 used to be parked at SAT airport back in the early 90s, when I worked there--is that the one you saw?
There are supposedly 6 of them, but this one is called 'Sentimental Journey" and has a picture of Betty Grable on the side as well. Let me tell you, getting my 6'2" 250lb self through the various parts of the plane on our tour was no picnic.
BTW, did you know the CAF is now the 'commemorative' AF instead of the 'confederate' AF? News to me.
Dave
Nope, I didn't--when did that happen? I guess Confederate isn't PC enough these days.
Can't remember the name on the one in SAT, but don't think that was it. I DO remember thinking as I crawled through that it was no place for claustrophobics.
Fun stuff, tho.
The UnPC issue was how they explained it when I asked today. Not sure how long the change has been in place for. Another example of our society blanding down.
Dave
"Hell, instead of fireworks let's all take our guns out and fire them in the air like they do in the middle east.
They do that here in Miami every holiday, and not with blanks, either.
People get killed by falling rounds fairly often."
Redwood City, with a large mexican community, mostly illegal, used to have that problem, but the police installed an acoustic triangulation system that pinpoints discharged guns. Stopped it dead. Year 'round.
I don't see the problem so long as you aim your gun so the parabola ends on the house of a democrat.
I liked this very much. You hear a lot about remembering the true meaning of the holiday, but it was nifty to read one about the true meaning of 4th-of-July fireworks. "The rocket's red glare" indeed.
Well written piece, Dave. I might have appreciated it more if I were still selling whoppers in St. Paul instead of my writing here...
save your love for the dancing shadows on the cave's walls...the abstract is a cold mistress
further - I reject the author's premiss: *we're never done spilling that blood and paying that price.*
'freedom' based on murder isn't freedom - it's solipsism
and change is possible...it's a matter of individual free choice
troll
Troll, who said anything about murder?
There are plenty of other circumstances under which blood can be spilled in the defense of liberty, and I was referring more to the blood of martyrs to the cause of liberty than anything else.
Dave
i've been slightly Wondering who the "we" is?
certainly those who think "patriotism" is putting yellow ribbon magnets on their cars don't count as "minutemen"?
but i digress
Excelsior?
I'm not sure the yellow ribbon magnets have anything to do with patriotism. That's a different agenda alltogether, I suspect.
As for who 'we' is, it's all of us who care enough to keep this Republic free. You can be part of that group or not as you choose.
Dave
Dave - I understood what you were saying about those bloody martyrs and was indicating the (inseparable) 'other side of the coin'
and my use of 'murder' was drama - the rejection of hairsplitting
troll
"As for who 'we' is, it's all of us who care enough to keep this Republic free. You can be part of that group or not as you choose."
- Dave Nalle
Oh, you mean the group who believes wars are won and the Republics freedom is preserved by typing hundreds of thousands of rhetorical words on a blogroll from the safety of their keyboard?
I'll choose to avoid that group.
No doubt we'd all be speaking with heavy British accents if the original minutemen were anything like the author, ie, choosing to avoid action by hiding out in their fenced compounds .
now now MCH...i give credit to those who follow the Paine example...
each does what they can
but i do tend to give more credence to those willing to Sacrifice...
that olde "my Life, my Fortune and my sacred Honor" bit holds more weight for me
but i'll not denigrate any who are willing to do more than just stick a magnet on their car and then bitch
your mileage may vary
Excelsior?
I'll choose to avoid that group.
Strange how you show up here again and again anyway, with nothing positive to contribute. Just providing a pointless distraction seems even more useless than trying to sway a few hearts and minds with 'hundreds of thousands of rhetorical words'.
dave
well, there does need to be some counterpoint to a few of the ideological opposites who do the same, but without the core message that MCH hammers on
and i know you know the ones i mean
Excelsior?
With Anthony Grande more or less gone we've got a lot less of that going on from the right. Most of those who remain at least attempt to make rational arguments, unsuccessful though some of them are.
Dave
well..i can think of Just One Example...
but i digress
for the most part, the discussions have been pretty good, and we seem to be generating a core from all sides who are willing to sit and not only talk rationally, but listen
and to me, that is a damn fine Victory, and shows just how far BC has come
it also gives me some Hope for our Republic if we can come so far in microcosm
and thanks for the Article...truly
Excelsior?
"I don't see the problem so long as you aim your gun so the parabola ends on the house of a democrat."
LOL. I completely second this sentiment, but only the Dean-Hillary-Kerry component.
I have no problem with Democrats who take their lead from Zell Miller or Joe Lieberman. Leave them be.
so shooting at those you disagree with is OK by you?
interesting style of politics...i am guessing you learned it from Castro?
Excelsior?
Gonzo, do you get satire? Or are you in serious mode? (I know what I said about being serious all the time, but I was poking fun here. Honestly.)
I have no problem with Democrats who take their lead from Zell Miller or Joe Lieberman.
I kind of like Miller, but frankly Leiberman's a creepy statist who I'd like to see permanently retired even if it puts another new england socialist in the seat.
Dave
/sigh
suggesting you "learned it from Castro", you being the stick up the ass far right wing fascist you are Mark..IS satire...
i Agree with you, Dave about Lieberman...i also think he cost Gore the election in 2000...as far as Miller goes, he should have jumped to the GOP 25 years ago, or at least doen the head exploding scanners thing that night at the GOP convention when he wanted to challenge Matthews to a duel..
THAT woudl have been great TV, and the highpoint of Miller's kooky carreer
Excelsior?
You've got to admit that when he gets up a head of steam Miller is a hell of a lot of fun. And if you've read his book he's actually dead on about the decline of the democratic party, though I'm not sure he ever should have been in the party in the first place.
Dave
i must disagree there...i think MIller is a fruitbat of the highest order...and yes, he should have gone GOP ages ago...like when he first took office after the civil war...
but i digress
Excelsior?
Have you read his book, gonzo? He's actually got some real insights into how and where the democrats lost their way.
Dave
i have read some...promptly threw up and then had some nice laughs...
not worth my time finishing it, since i think the man is mentally deranged on many levels
i agree, he makes a decent point on occasions...
but even a broken clock is right twice a day
Excelsior?
Damn, I was going to use that line about a broken clock but I forgot to.
Dave
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/49981)
Hell, instead of fireworks let's all take our guns out and fire them in the air like they do in the middle east. We can still have guns, right?