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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Today in History: Concord Hymn
2010-04-19
Ralph Waldo Emerson was a key early American philospher, poet and writer, particularly known for his appreciation of individualism, self-reliance and intuition.

He wrote this poem, which was sung as a hymn at a July 4, 1837 ceremony to mark the completion of the Concord Monument, to immortalize the resistance of American Minutemen to British forces on April 19, 1775.

The poem's phrase "shot heard round the world" is now internationally famous for its description of the philosphical importance of the American revolution.


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.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posted by:Beavis

#5  They made a movie out of Johnny Tremain? I missed that one -- one of the few. I loved the book too, JosephM.
Posted by: trailing wife   2010-04-19 22:55  

#4  "JOHNNY TREMAIN" > one of fav Books + TV Walt Disney flickies.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-04-19 22:46  

#3  D *** NG IT, MORIARITY, DON'T YOU REMEMBER > In 1814 we's is took a lil' trip, down a ruff little river called the "MIGHTY MISSISSIP"...

OOOOPSIES, wrong war.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-04-19 22:43  

#2  That would depend on the redcoat position on gender issues.
Posted by: Super Hose   2010-04-19 21:09  

#1  Unfortunately, Lexington and Concord are now probably two of the most PC towns in the country.
They'd probably want to "have a dialouge" with the redcoats and dime out all the gun owners. In the spirit of "coexistence", of course...
Posted by: tu3031   2010-04-19 10:49  

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