Comments for April 19th, some years ago in a small town in New England...

April 19th, some years ago in a small town in New England...

2005-04-19T11:46:30Z

...the central government came to sieze near-state-of-the-art military weaponry in the hands of the locals, who had come to not show proper deference to the representatives of that government...

Hi-res click here.

By the rude bridge which arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard 'round the world.

Hi-res click here. (Nice Brown Bess, btw!)

For a whim - the BBC's look at things.

Hi-res click here.

From that seed was to spring the greatest disaster to ever befall mankind, in the eyes of Leftists and Dictators the world over... the United States of America.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2005-04-22

2005-04-23T02:05:01Z

Thanks for stopping by, CPT Green. The Castle can always use another Redleg! The Cheatham Punch is in the cooler in the closet, the code for the lock is "13A00"

Comment from Mike Greene on 2005-04-22

2005-04-23T01:53:46Z

Not for nothing but those guys who stood up to the Big Red Bullies were the predecessors of today's 1-181 IN of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Just a little Hometown Pride, if you will. MICHAEL J. GREENE Captain, FA Massachusetts Army National Guard

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2005-04-21

2005-04-21T20:12:18Z

Would it have been *that* bad? I dunno, Lucius, I *like* the way our system bollixes up politicians both because of the structure of the Constitution, and the structure of the Legislative and Executive branches.

Comment from LUCIUS SEVERUS PERTINAX on 2005-04-21

2005-04-21T12:16:32Z

The French, of course, would be hating life, although they would have impeccable manners. ;-)

Comment from LUCIUS SEVERUS PERTINAX on 2005-04-21

2005-04-21T12:12:27Z

It is interesting to speculate, however, what might have followed if a compromise had been reached and sustained. I have an idea that the role of colony and Mother Country would, over time, become insensably reversed; with the entire North American continent under the Union Jack (admit it, would that really be such a bad thing?)the Empire's economic (thus political) center of gravity would shift westward. London may remain the nominal seat of government, but it would be New York and Chicago that would be calling the shots. Canada, what we call the US,Australia, New Zealand,India,'arf of Africa, an' Gawd knows what else..... Would the World Wars even have been possible? Just IMAGINE the size of the NAVY!!

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2005-04-20

2005-04-20T21:23:04Z

Well, we 'Muricans weren't always into instant gratification... we took the long view on that one. And, we don't carry a grudge. Well, at least anymore. Besides, we have a place to send our deserters!

Comment from J.M. Heinrichs on 2005-04-20

2005-04-20T18:58:55Z

Then came Christmas, a cold Christmas, a Quebec Christmas, 25 Dec 75 ... Cheers JMH

Comment from Neffi on 2005-04-19

2005-04-20T02:49:08Z

harrumph.. ahem... Castle Argghhh- Every Day is an Education heh- you should TM that, John

Comment from Bayonet geek on 2005-04-19

2005-04-19T23:23:48Z

...and no, the blade isn't bent- it was made that way. A common touch with many socket bayonets of the time, it gave extra clearance for the soldier's hand when ramming down the load. 'Castle Arrgh... every day is an education' heh

Comment from Bayonet geek on 2005-04-19

2005-04-19T23:16:55Z

ah, yes... the truly effective component of the Brown Bess... made by WOOLEY, and Birmingham-proofed.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2005-04-19

2005-04-19T18:24:29Z

I'm not sure the distinction as we make it was useful 'back in the day' Alan!

Comment from Alan on 2005-04-19

2005-04-19T17:36:26Z

Errr...the revolutionaries were the lefties!

Comment from Larry on 2005-04-19

2005-04-19T17:02:29Z

'Twas a gun control mission the lobsters were on, too, but the locals effectively repeated the Spartans answer to Persian demands for their weapons at Thermopylae 2254 years before -- "Molon Labe -- come and take them."

Comment from kat-missouri on 2005-04-19

2005-04-19T16:35:16Z

Dang those red coats. If only they had asked them to tea, we'd still be british citizens and sing "God Save the Queen" instead of "Land of Liberty". /sarcasm

Comment from Cricket on 2005-04-19

2005-04-19T12:28:34Z

And so it goes. We beat them fair and square and became the envy of the world, not the Soviet Union. One of my favorite Left wing conversion stories was this: My parents have a good friend whose parents were card carrying members of the American Communist Party, and for a graduation present from high school back in the mid 1950s, sent their son who was a fledgling commie to the Soviet Union, The Worker's Paradise, yadda yadda. He was expecting Great Things. When he saw the reality of Moscow and collective farming, he couldn't WAIT to leave. He was forced into visiting Lenin's Tomb. He was shown the wall in Red Square where whatshisname was buried (like that is an honor? That would be oogie), and dragged around Leningrad. It was summer and freezing. Not enough food, even in the country. People starving and stealing to stay alive. He got home, and when he turned 21, he registered to vote as a Republican and joined the Army. He is retired now. Point is, he didn't see a whole lot of Americans beating a path to Russia's door. He saw a whole lot of Russians and other groups wanting to get out and get to America. Yeah, we are the left wind nightmare. (delieberate misspelling) We attract all the attention of the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free and they have no one to listen to their nonsense.

Comment from Wes on 2005-04-19

2005-04-19T12:00:02Z

... and on November 25th, 1781, King George III said "Dang."