Thursday, April 11, 2013

Raising a Country

A personal reflection, in advance of Patriots' Day 2013, published in Lexington Minuteman, April 11, 2013

Raising a Country
On Patriots' Day, before marathoners take their marks and pancake breakfasts are served, re-enactors will stir in the morning haze as John Hancock's nimble-footed secretary protects a trunkload of Patriot-activist papers from British Regulars descending upon Lexington's Green.
When the Stamp Act crisis developed in 1765, signaling the revolutionary era, Patriot-activists were quick to respond. Patriot men and women, referring to themselves as “sons” and “daughters of liberty”, were spurred by the revolutionary cause and drawn to political action.
Re-enactors, dressing their parts in “homespun” linen or wool, tell of women’s participation in boycotts on finer British textiles. The constant spinning, knitting, and sewing, they say, kept hands busy and minds free. In sewing or spinning circles, conversation naturally turned to political and economic matters.
In Founding Mothers, Cokie Roberts asserts revolutionary women did what women do in remarkable circumstances: they accompanied soldiers to camp; served as spies; organized boycotts of British goods; and defended their homesteads alone. All this while they bore and buried and reared children. Then, the Revolutionary War was over and there was a country to raise!
How indebted I am to all women who have elevated and strengthened the level of political thought throughout our democratic history. This spirit of activism continues as women continue to raise families; organize campaigns, rallies, and demonstrations; speak up to elected leaders and decision makers; and drive change and make progress by seeking elected office ourselves.
As national rancor and uncivil discourse over the size of government threatens to quash us, one thing is certain: government is what we agree to do together.
This Patriot’s Day, let’s commit ourselves to raising up our country and follow the example of our Founding Mothers and Daughters of Liberty.