Wednesday, July 04, 2007
'Their flag to April's breeze unfurled'
Hub Blog regrets to interject a highly divisive issue on this July Fourth, to wit: Which local Minuteman statue is better -- Lexington's statue or Concord's statue? Without doubt, the answer is: Concord's statue (see right). Why? Because I say so. The hat does it for me. The Lexington statue makes the Minuteman look like a slimmed down version of Paul Bunyan. Besides, I like Concord center more than Lexington center. ... So there. Someone had to settle this simmering debate. ... Speaking of the Fourth, check out this post. What a happy bunch. But I did like the response to the suggestion that 'patriotism' be replaced with 'matriotism': 'Just sprained my eyeballs rolling them heavenward.' ... Remember: Men, bad; women, good. ... But of course, you find the same sourpuss attitudes on the right. You see, the 'real threat to our national security may be our own lack of faith in ourselves.' Kaplan makes good points. Yet, even though he denies it at the end, one gets the impression he thinks that 'lack of faith' may be the main problem facing us in Iraq today. To which I say: Riiiiight. ... You can hear the 'stab in the back' theories being formulated as we speak. It's enough to make you drink. But wait: D'oh! ... 'Cripes, they even killed Schlitz.' ... OK, I'll end it all on an upbeat note: Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Concord Hymn.' Though it's about April 19, 1775, not July 4, 1776, it still beautifully applies:
Hub Blog regrets to interject a highly divisive issue on this July Fourth, to wit: Which local Minuteman statue is better -- Lexington's statue or Concord's statue? Without doubt, the answer is: Concord's statue (see right). Why? Because I say so. The hat does it for me. The Lexington statue makes the Minuteman look like a slimmed down version of Paul Bunyan. Besides, I like Concord center more than Lexington center. ... So there. Someone had to settle this simmering debate. ... Speaking of the Fourth, check out this post. What a happy bunch. But I did like the response to the suggestion that 'patriotism' be replaced with 'matriotism': 'Just sprained my eyeballs rolling them heavenward.' ... Remember: Men, bad; women, good. ... But of course, you find the same sourpuss attitudes on the right. You see, the 'real threat to our national security may be our own lack of faith in ourselves.' Kaplan makes good points. Yet, even though he denies it at the end, one gets the impression he thinks that 'lack of faith' may be the main problem facing us in Iraq today. To which I say: Riiiiight. ... You can hear the 'stab in the back' theories being formulated as we speak. It's enough to make you drink. But wait: D'oh! ... 'Cripes, they even killed Schlitz.' ... OK, I'll end it all on an upbeat note: Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Concord Hymn.' Though it's about April 19, 1775, not July 4, 1776, it still beautifully applies:
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.
The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.
On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone,
Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.
