Politics: April 2008 Archives
I always post only one image per entry, but I decided to make an exception today since I have two good images and I didn't know which one to choose.
Some of you may think this is a holiday because the Boston Marathon is held on this day or the Red Sox play their traditional home game. You would be wrong! Patriots' Day is a civic holiday commemorating the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. It is observed in Massachusetts and Maine (once part of Massachusetts), and a public school observance day in Wisconsin. Observances and re-enactments of these first battles of the American Revolution occur annually at Lexington Green in Lexington, Massachusetts, and The Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. In the morning, a mounted reenactor with State Police escort retraces Paul Revere's ride, calling out warnings the whole way.
The Stow Minuteman Company was reactivated in 1965 by order of the Stow Selectmen, to "preserve and perpetuate the memory and spirit of our forebears [and] promote an active interest in Revolutionary history." They walked from downtown Stow at 4:45AM all the way to North Bridge in Concord. They are a tough group, but I didn't check to see if they were wearing period shoes. I read a story that said at least one did not (i.e., Ms. Katy Needle). It was a great time and I felt a shiver of patriotism as I followed this great group. Although I will admit that feeling wasn't strong enough to make me want to follow them all the way to North Bridge. By the halfway point, I had my images, so I went home to bed. That's patriotism for you!
The first image was near dawn (5:50AM) at their stop at the intersection of Concord Road and Acton Street (Route 27) in Maynard. The second image was taken after I made a quick stop at Dunkin' Donuts and drove over to meet the Company just before they trekked down the footpath to Old Stow Road in West Concord.
Well this was a rather interesting event. I went to my first political pow wow in Hudson, Ma attended by several Stow officials, our state representative Pat Walrath (who is retiring and was being honored for her service) and Stow's Daisy Dearborn who was also honored for, I guess, being a democrat for umpteen years. Senator John Kerry was the keynote speaker. I've never felt so out of place in my entire life. Well, that's somewhat of an exaggeration. I was worried I was going to be found out as a fiscal conservative and they were going to flog me or something.
Kerry was introduced with the unsurprising remarks: "All I can say is... 'if only'." I guess this is probably what they say when Al Gore is introduced (or probably even Dukakis or Mondale). Gee, can we not look back? Anyway, Kerry was clearly stuck in the past. He told a funny story about the photo shoot with Dukakis (see image) where you will notice that "The Duke" looks taller (we all know he's very short) than Kerry (who is 6'4"). He also recalled his recent incident in Afghanistan in vivid detail, making me wonder if he was adding to this terrible helicopter flight in the same way that Hillary Clinton added to her "machine gun fire" story in Yugoslavia.
Anyway, all that aside, I am one of those crazy people who thinks that what we are doing in Iraq is making our country safer (this is basically John McCain's position). John Kerry clearly doesn't see it that way. I read my daily Stratfor reports and know that we have a definite interest as well as security concerns in all parts of the world. I believe the enemy (and I do believe we have an enemy) is bogged down over there and not bringing the war over here as a result. I think that makes my family safer. But I guess I'm crazy for thinking that, so Kerry tells me. Global politics is not about making nice with everyone. It's a chess game with death match stakes. I say we better play the game tough or we will get royally screwed. Somehow I don't think John Kerry would have played that way. If only...
