In the August sun the soldiers set about their work. Treasonous acts had been plotted and carried out. Rebels had engaged in armed conflict and now it was time to destroy the meeting place and a symbol of their resistance. The Liberty Tree had to be felled.
The British soldiers could not allow a symbol of rebellion to survive and provide hope to a traitorous cause. A meeting place for the Sons of Liberty, including Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere, could not be spared from destruction. In August 1775 the Liberty Tree was chopped down. A symbol of resistance to tyranny was no more.
Thomas Paine wrote a poem about the significance of the Liberty Tree. In part he wrote:
The fame of its fruit drew the nations around,
To seek out this peaceable shore.
Unmindful of names or distinction they came,
For freemen like brothers agree;
With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued,
And their temple was Liberty Tree.
The Sons of Liberty had continued a tradition that had carried on for centuries in England by gathering together under a tree to address issues of common concern. Their concern was tyranny and their desire was liberty. The Liberty Tree provided a spot for the rebels of Boston to voice their displeasure. The sparks of freedom were born under the branches of the Liberty Tree.
The British could destroy the tree but they could not destroy the idea of liberty. The British government’s intrusion into the lives of the colonists had become oppressive and the colonists reacted by winning independence. The next hurdle would be devising a government that didn’t replicate the actions of the monarchy.
As one signer of the Declaration of Independence,Roger Sherman, lamented: “Sad will be the day when the American people forget their traditions and their history, and so longer remember that the country they love, the institutions they cherish, and the freedom they hope to preserve, were born from the throes of armed resistance to tyranny, and nursed in the rugged arms of fearless men.”
Thomas Jefferson further noted: “Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Our responsibility today is to ensure that tyranny does not win. Voltaire warned “Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them.”
Government growth comes at the expense of liberty. If the government is expanding its power it is coming at the expense of our liberty. Remember the Liberty Tree during the next election cycle. Anyone who has spent the last 30 years in government should be voted out of office. Liberty cannot flourish when politicians see their positions as lifetime appointments. New ideas cannot be introduced when representatives have spent decades insulated from the private enterprise.
Take the time to plant your own liberty tree figuratively or literally. Take steps to fight for liberty against tyranny. Vow not to vote for any candidate that has over 30 years in office in their next primary election.
Fight against encroaching tyranny and postpone the “sad day” when we no longer remember the Liberty Tree or the ideals that were fostered under its branches.
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
Samuel Johnson was among the most influential literary figures of eighteenth-century England.
He achieved extraordinary intellectual distinction through his essays, poetry, criticism, and his celebrated Dictionary of the English Language.
Yet Johnson’s personal life was far from uncomplicated.
He struggled with recurring melancholy, anxiety about his spiritual condition, and profound dissatisfaction with himself.
Despite these difficulties, Johnson demonstrated remarkable generosity toward people in need.
He provided financial assistance, offered hospitality, and maintained relationships with individuals who were frequently overlooked or marginalized by polite society.
Johnson’s life provides an interesting contrast to Sydney Carton’s.
Both men possessed exceptional intellectual abilities.
Both experienced deep personal dissatisfaction.
But Johnson repeatedly converted his abilities into substantial achievements while also demonstrating compassion through his ...
