We were in Lexington this evening, for a Good Friday church service. “No parking” signs are everywhere, because Saturday is the 250th anniversary of the battle at Lexington and Concord. I found myself thinking, as I often do, that I just don’t see the point of that revolution. So I liked the way you described Niall Ferguson’s take on it: “In his book Empire, he expressed a bit of perplexity at the uprising. After all, the colonists were arguably the wealthiest people in the world, better situated than their counterparts in England; they had benefited greatly from the protection of the Royal Navy.”
I love the way current events are tied into historical moments. This was a great read. Thanks for separating out myth from fact, although I’m disappointed that Ben Franklin probably never said those words.
Only one Tea Party matter unaddressed: English Breakfast or Earl Grey? Thanks again, Rich, for hard work and necessary insights.
Thanks Fred. If only it had been chamomile, everyone would have calmed down.
Terrific piece, Richard. Ever more salient as our situation feels more and more like an occupation by foreign powers.
We were in Lexington this evening, for a Good Friday church service. “No parking” signs are everywhere, because Saturday is the 250th anniversary of the battle at Lexington and Concord. I found myself thinking, as I often do, that I just don’t see the point of that revolution. So I liked the way you described Niall Ferguson’s take on it: “In his book Empire, he expressed a bit of perplexity at the uprising. After all, the colonists were arguably the wealthiest people in the world, better situated than their counterparts in England; they had benefited greatly from the protection of the Royal Navy.”
I love the way current events are tied into historical moments. This was a great read. Thanks for separating out myth from fact, although I’m disappointed that Ben Franklin probably never said those words.