19 Comments
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JudiLI's avatar

Thank you! My favorite! We are all Paul Revere! The Fascists are coming, the Fascist are coming! Raise the alarm!

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Karen RN's avatar

Tomorrow: “No Kings” protests happening all over the country. Check the websites of Indivisible and 50501 for locations. I’m attending one in Vancouver, WA. Thank you for posting “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” Tom. Great inspiration to start out the day.

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Bruce Culver's avatar

It's a great poem and shows the value of having a good PR team..... I studied medical illustration at Mass General Hospital in Boston in the early 60s, and the ride is celebrated every April 18th as Patriot's Day. No doubt you are aware that Revere never made the complete ride - he was captured by a British patrol after warning the colonial leaders in Lexington, and spent the night in their custody before being released. It was William Dawes and Samuel Prescott who actually made the ride that warned the 'minute men' in Concord that the British were coming. Longfellow of course didn't want to tarnish the legend.....

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TCinLA's avatar

Yeah, I knew that. But the poem's good for today.

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

This is the first time I've actually read the entire poem. Thanks Tom.

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GarySanDiego's avatar

Same. Grateful.

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Harris Semegram's avatar

We ask who is today's Paul Revere. Is it AOC? Bernie? It's not the tired, lethargic wing of the establishment Democrats. There are many moments everyday where the fictional Howard Beale should spring to real life and issue the rallying cry.

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Nanny Ann's avatar

We are all named Revere! We should all Ride Out or Get Out of the Way! Every man, woman and child needs to spread the word. Our way of life and liberty are at stake!

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Michael Green's avatar

The funny thing is, Revere was stopped and went home. William Dawes finished the ride, but his name didn't rhyme so well. J.G. Randall, a legendary Civil War historian, once wrote his own version that began something like, "Listen my children, I'll give you pause, to hear the story of William Dawes."

But it remains an inspirational poem, and a reminder that we have fought mad kings before.

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Nancy Ellen's avatar

Thanks for this great reminder of patriotism and fearlessness to preserve a fragile republic. Ride on!!

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Jon Margolis's avatar

Thanks, Tom. A couple of historical points. First, the lanterns were not hung in Old North Church, at least as it was known at the time. It was Christ Church and, being Anglican (Episcopalian), slightly suspect to Boston’s dominant Congregationalists. In 1775, Old North was a Congregationalist sanctuary with a much shorter spire. And Revere never made it to Lexington or Concord. He was stopped by the British and held for several hours. (His real mission that night was to warn John Hancock and Sam Adams, who were in Lexington, whom the British wanted to arrest.)

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SAH Vashon's avatar

Love the poem, love the Grant Wood painting, love the heroism in both❤️.

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Patrick Joseph Maloney's avatar

"The West's awake"

Sing oh let man learn liberty

From lashing wind and crashing sea.

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Katie McNutt's avatar

Ah, a favorite since childhood. I am inspired once again so thank you. I am not nit picky about the historical details, I leave it to those who are. I know when the alarm is sounded and I go off to march in the morning. I am interested in seeing some serious work on Project 2026. Who is working on this?

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JDinTX's avatar

Desperately needed. Like a contract with America, not a contract on America.

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Connie Miller's avatar

Thank

Beautiful..we are all Paul Revere!

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Gloria Horton-Young's avatar

I mourn the loss of epic, long form poetry.

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Judith Matlock's avatar

Thanks, Tom. We all need to rise to the occasion just as Revere did.

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Rhonda Schmit's avatar

I took the time to recite that poem out loud this morning. Needed that this morning.

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