Today we went into Boston to join the folks at the Tea Party Protest on the Common near the State House. Given this city is the home of Barney Frank, and John Kerry lives just around the corner (really) I wasn’t too sure how many folks would be there. I also wasn’t sure if there would be a counter protest, given the fact that the area around the State House has been heavy protest territory lately.
Since I spend a lot of time praying in and around the State House, I met a friend yesterday and we prayer walked the area where the protest would take place, and we also prayed around the perimeter of the common. It looks like the prayers were answered, since the crowd was very peaceful, and actually most folks were very upbeat. At the noon gathering about 1000 people showed up, and they went down to the wharf afterwards and threw casks of tea into the harbor. There were lots of folks in colonial garb, and a ton of signs. Unfortunately, the camera didn’t work, so I was stuck with my iPhone camera. The pictures above were the most presentable (click on the image to get a full sized view).
Nearly 400 years ago my ancestors stood about 100 yards from the spot where this protest took place, and they made a covenant with God. 150 years later, another one of my ancestors said the immortal words “Don’t shoot till you see the whites of their eyes” about a mile from here. It was good to be on this hill standing for liberty. Freedom is in my blood. And since I am now a threat to national security (according to the Department of Homeland Security) I feel it is my duty to stand like my fathers did. Our liberty was bought with their blood, and their DNA is in mine. Tyranny is never creative, and our contemporary tyrants are beginning to look no different than any of the others that history reviles.
Holy Spirit, come like a mighty rushing wind and awaken us out of our complacency, our apathy, our indifference. Disturb us, for we are too content to let things go on as they are, and not let people go on not knowing you. Penetrate the closed gates of our hearts and make us live again. O Holy Spirit, create among us a mighty Christian revolution and cast the fear of the unknown out of our lives. (from The Catholic Prayer Book)
Psalm 146
Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Put not your trust in rulers,
nor in any child of earth,
for there is no help in them.
When they breathe their last, they return to earth,
and in that day their thoughts perish
Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help!
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them;
who keeps his promise for ever;
Who gives justice to those who are oppressed,
and food to those who hunger.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous;
the Lord cares for the stranger;
He sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.
The Lord shall reign for ever,
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Alleluia!