Let me say first and foremost I am a Ron Paul supporter and that I disagree with Palin on number of issues, but not every issue. In fact there is more common ground with her than those in the Liberty Movement are willing to admit because we like blinders just as much as the Neocons, Progressives and the Apathetic. However, being a Ron Paul supporter, I think fair is fair no matter what….and so I thought that is how everyone else in the Liberty Movement would operate. Apparently I was wrong. So quite frankly this woman has been dragged through the mud by people who haven’t a bit more sense about the start of this union than they claim she does, ironic aint it.
So this little post is me calling out the Liberty Movement. Not exactly sorry if I offend either. I expect better from us, after all we base our philosophy on that of the Constitution. Yet we are displaying about as little knowledge about the events that brought that document to bare as every other political hack right now. We can either opt to stop, think, evaluate and give intelligent commentary and discussion or not. If we act and respond in the same manner as the other two….er….one party shills then we are no better and those looking to us for the truth in all this will discard us as the same and we will make no progress.
We cannot incorporate the Saul Alinsky model of denigrate the person instead of debate the issues. Stop having stupid knee jerk responses to our preconceived notions, after all that is what the status quo has done to Ron Paul for years.
Direct quotes from the book “Paul Revere’s Ride” by David Hackett Fischer:
Revere ‘Warned’ the British Officers:
“At last the [British] officers began to feel the full import of what Paul Revere had been telling them. His words of warning too…k on stronger meaning when punctuated by gunfire. The sound of a single shot had suggested to them that surprise was lost. The crash of a volley appeared evidence that the country was rising against them. As they came closer to the Common they began to hear Lexington’s town bell clanging rapidly. the captive Loring, picking up Revere’s spirit, turned to the officers and said, ‘The bell’s a’ringing! The town’s alarmed, and you’re all dead men!'”
[Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer, pp. 133-136].
About the bells:
“A townsman remembered that ‘repeated gunshots, the beating of drums and the ringing of bells filled the air.’…. Along the North Shore of Massachusetts, church bells began to toll and the heavy beat of drums could be heard for many miles in the night air.”
“Paul Revere …. was on the road …. to Medford … rode directly to house of … Commander of Minutemen, who instantly triggered the alarm … A townsman remembered ‘repeated gunshots, beating of drums, and ringing of bells filled the air’.”
[Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer, pp. 140].
Here is what Wikipedia has to say on the Paul Revere page
Revere, Dawes, and Prescott were detained by a British Army patrol in Lincoln at a roadblock on the way to Concord.[12] Prescott jumped his horse over a wall and escaped into the woods; he eventually reached Concord. Dawes also escaped, though he fell off his horse not long after and did not complete the ride.[19][20]
Revere was questioned by the British officers and told them of the army’s movement from Boston, and that British army troops might be in some danger if they approached Lexington, because of the large number of hostile militia gathered there.[21] He and other captives taken by the patrol were then escorted east toward Lexington, until the sound of musket fire from the town center alarmed the patrolmen. Revere explained to them that it was probably an arriving militia company that had fired a volley upon its arrival. The sound was followed not long after by the pealing of the town bell.[22] The British confiscated Revere’s horse, and rode off to warn the approaching army column. Revere was horseless and walked through a cemetery and pastures until he came to Rev. Clarke’s house where Hancock and Adams were staying. As the battle on Lexington Green continued, Revere helped John Hancock and his family escape from Lexington with their possessions, including a trunk of Hancock’s papers.[20]
The ride of the three men triggered a flexible system of “alarm and muster” that had been carefully developed months before, in reaction to the colonists’ impotent response to the Powder Alarm of September 1774. This system was an improved version of an old network of widespread notification and fast deployment of local militia forces in times of emergency. The colonists had periodically used this system all the way back to the early years of Indian wars in the colony, before it fell into disuse in the French and Indian War. In addition to other express riders delivering messages, bells, drums, alarm guns, bonfires and a trumpet were used for rapid communication from town to town, notifying the rebels in dozens of eastern Massachusetts villages that they should muster their militias because the regulars in numbers greater than 500 were leaving Boston, with possible hostile intentions. This system was so effective that people in towns 25 miles (40 km) from Boston were aware of the army’s movements while they were still unloading boats in Cambridge.[23] Unlike in the Powder Alarm, the alarm raised by the three riders successfully allowed the militia to repel the British troops in Concord, after which the British were harried by the growing colonial militia all the way back to Boston.
Wiki also has this to say about the aforementioned book by David Hackett Fischer “Paul Revere’s Ride”
“This book is extensively footnoted, and contains a voluminous list of primary resources concerning all aspects of these events.”
Then there is this bit of research from Dr. William A. Jacobson at Cornell University Law School
Also here is a link to “Paul Revere’s” Ride in Google Books.
UPDATE: It has been pointed out that there is a bit of a ruckus over at Wikipedia
http://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-palin-fans-try-to-rewrite-wikipedia-history-of-paul-reveres-ride-2011-6
However, the info still seems to be up citing “Paul Revere’s Ride” written in 1995. Hmmm….is this a Palin Conspiracy by her supporters. Seriously Folks.
UPDATE 2: More from William A Jacobson’s research turns out Boston Historians say Sarah was right.
http://legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/2011/06/anti-palinites-go-all-in-on-epistemic.html
Excellent post, Mica! As part of the liberty movement, I’m also often confused that we end up acting like any other political group, whether it be the left or the neo-cons–non-inclusive. Senator Rand Paul has shown us that single-issue coalitions are very powerful, rather than excluding those who aren’t Ron Paul-clones. Of course, you and I aren’t saying we should compromise our ideas, but we need to live those ideas rather than demonize everyone who disagrees to some extent.
Sarah Palin may not be a historian, but she is a Patriot and that should be the first requirement for anyone running for any public office in America. There is no reason for anyone to fear this lady who loves our country so much.
Thanks for posting. I posted some of the same myself. I have been shocked about the Liberty groups pouncing on Palin just like the Liberal left. And I am really shocked when other women beat up down. Palin has courage, conviction, and I admire at what she has accomplished as a woman. That doesn’t mean I’d vote for her for President, but she has my admiration for speaking out. And I really love how she is sticking it to the press. Go go girl!