Shot Heard Around the World

Depending upon where you live and your age, the phrase, “the shot heard ‘round the world” has different meanings. To baseball fans over the age of 60, it conjures up images of Bobby Thompson’s walk-off home run to win the 1951 World Series for the New York Giants. In Europe, the phrase generally refers to the assignation of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and the beginning of WW1. In a 2009 album Love Drunk by the band Boys Like Girls, one of the cuts is entitled “The Shot Heard Round the World.” I don’t even want to guess at what that means.

I am of the opinion that We the People should never forget the original which was written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Describing the opening conflict of the Revolutionary War at the battle at Old North Bridge, he wrote:

"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."

Wendy and I spent our time between the 8-28 Beck Restoring Honor gathering and the 9-12 March in DC visiting our Country’s heritage in Boston, Portsmouth, NH and Concord, MA. Paying my respects at the graves of Sam Adams and John Hancock wasn’t as much fun as say… being on the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. Standing in silence, seeing the lettering on the stone makers worn to the point they were difficult to decipher, does not bring on an adrenalin rush; but walking through Granary Burying Ground will bring emotions to the surface for any Patriot. It is sacred ground.

We drove from Portsmouth west to Concord, NH and then south to Concord, MA. We stopped in Concord, New Hampshire for lunch. I joked with our waitress, asking her how to get to the bridge where the shot heard round the world took place. Instead of laughing or rolling her eyes at the ignorant California flake, she replied that she didn’t know for sure but that there were a bunch of historical monuments downtown and perhaps it was there. Okay, I was a little embarrassed. I’m thinking maybe she didn’t grow up in New England and was not taught our history. I asked how long she lived in Concord and she replied all her life. Now I’m hooked.

To Wendy’s chagrin, I insisted we walk around Main Street in front of the Court House for a few minutes while I ask the locals for directions. The next two townspeople were very polite and it was obvious they wanted to be helpful. They had both heard of the shot heard round the world but did not know where the old bridge was located. Perhaps it had been destroyed over the years? The fourth person I approached was a 40 something business man. He looked at me with a sly smile and I knew the ruse was up. He said, “Sir, you are in the wrong state. You want Concord, Massachusetts.” He points south and says, “About 75 miles that way.”

We arrived at the Old North Bridge around 5 in the afternoon. It was overcast and just a bit chilly. At first, the setting was almost too serene; it took a while to sense the violence that took place here on April 19, 1775. The re-constructed Old North Bridge spanning the Concord River is far more solid than was the rickety original. There is a statue of a Minuteman on the west side of the bridge; but it is the marker for the grave of two British Redcoats on the east bank that beckons us to understand that this too is sacred ground. Earlier the morning of April 19, in nearby Lexington, the Redcoats fired on and killed 8 and wounded 10 colonists. At the Old North Bridge, Approximately 95 Redcoats on the east side of the Concord River faced 400 Minutemen on the west side just 50 yards apart. Whether out of fear or contempt for their rag tag opposition, the King’s army fired upon the Minutemen, killing two. This time, the Minutemen fired back and the world was forever changed.

Emerson’s “Concord Hymn” written in 1837, was not meant to slight the carnage at Lexington but to acknowledge that it was at the Old North Bridge where the colonist first fired back at the regular army under orders to do so by their commanders. We had finally had enough.

I have had enough Cass Sunstein, Andy Stern, Valerie Jarett, George Soros, Barack Obama, et al. “occupying” our White House and the Congress that enables them. The progressives are close to reaching their goal of turning the United States into a 2nd tier nation and achieving global governance. If you still do not recognize this truth, consider the following. The U. S. is energy dependent. That threatens our economy and security. Obama shuts down our oil drilling in the Gulf by Executive Order. A judge blocks Obama’s Executive Order. Obama ignores the judge (rule of law) and keeps the rigs shut down. Obama loans our money to Mexico and Brazil so they can drill in the Gulf.

Under the Obama administration, the Justice Department will not enforce voter intimidation laws if those breaking the law are black and the people being harmed are white. The Obama administration will not enforce our nation’s immigration laws, supports sanctuary cities and has the Justice Department attack the Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona and the state of Arizona.

Even King George of England in 1775 did not force us to buy British Tea. Yet, the Obama administration under the guidance of King George Soros forces us to buy insurance! The government has no authority under our Constitution to force us to buy anything. Haven’t you had enough America? I hope so and I pray that you stand beside me and fire back on November 2nd.

Glen A. Amos