Hi Folks,
Just thought I'd interject with thoughts from a trip to Boston I'm in the middle of right now. Over the past two days I have been on a fascinating and deeply historic trip through the USA's revolutionary history and the history of the emancipation of the slaves. I've visited the graves of Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Increase Sumner and many other pivotal figures. I visited the restored home of Paul Revere, Fanueil Hall, the old meeting houses, the Massachussetts state house, Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill), the USS Constitution, Boston Common, the Irish Famine Memorial, Harvard University and numerous museums and centuries old churches. This city blows away any other US city and perhaps a few European ones for history and the preservation thereof. I had done some reading prior to my trip on the subject of the war of independence and, coupled with what I have seen and learned on my travels here, I have to say I am impressed and have a deep respect for the momentous political and social achievements of the founding fathers of America (albeit at the cruellest expense of the indigenous population). They truly set an example and leapt forward light years with their endeavours. Their legacy is a great one - all Americans and interested foreigners should visit Boston to add some context into what you might have read on the birth of America.
And no, I'm not going soft on America here! If modern America exhibited a fraction of the high-mindedness, morality and dignity of those that enabled America to be born the world would be a much nicer place today. The Constitution, the subsequent amendments and the shedding of life for the liberty of black slaves is incalculably commendable. Modern foreign policy dictated by resource hungriness has been a dark stain - but hopefully America will turn to the principles of their founding fathers again at some point and there will be no more Phillipines, Vietnam or Iraq wars.
I'll post a photo montage of Boston when I get back to the Emerald Isle.
Later,
Poe
Just thought I'd interject with thoughts from a trip to Boston I'm in the middle of right now. Over the past two days I have been on a fascinating and deeply historic trip through the USA's revolutionary history and the history of the emancipation of the slaves. I've visited the graves of Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Increase Sumner and many other pivotal figures. I visited the restored home of Paul Revere, Fanueil Hall, the old meeting houses, the Massachussetts state house, Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill), the USS Constitution, Boston Common, the Irish Famine Memorial, Harvard University and numerous museums and centuries old churches. This city blows away any other US city and perhaps a few European ones for history and the preservation thereof. I had done some reading prior to my trip on the subject of the war of independence and, coupled with what I have seen and learned on my travels here, I have to say I am impressed and have a deep respect for the momentous political and social achievements of the founding fathers of America (albeit at the cruellest expense of the indigenous population). They truly set an example and leapt forward light years with their endeavours. Their legacy is a great one - all Americans and interested foreigners should visit Boston to add some context into what you might have read on the birth of America.
And no, I'm not going soft on America here! If modern America exhibited a fraction of the high-mindedness, morality and dignity of those that enabled America to be born the world would be a much nicer place today. The Constitution, the subsequent amendments and the shedding of life for the liberty of black slaves is incalculably commendable. Modern foreign policy dictated by resource hungriness has been a dark stain - but hopefully America will turn to the principles of their founding fathers again at some point and there will be no more Phillipines, Vietnam or Iraq wars.
I'll post a photo montage of Boston when I get back to the Emerald Isle.
Later,
Poe
