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Note from Ro: This is a muse I wrote years ago in honor of a great patriot - Samuel Adams. The story I have recounted inspires me to try to be more courageous in my own life.
Ro Paxman
Tomorrow the United States of America celebrates the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It is a major holiday in the states, one that is accompanied by flag waving, parades and fireworks displays.
The story of how it came to be that the document was signed is familiar to most Americans. School children can tell you that John Hancock signed the document large enough that his signature could be read by King George without his glasses on.
But, it is the back story for this tale that I am interested in today. The signing of the Declaration of Independence was preceded by the bravery and determination of two men, one man in particular, who was put in a situation in which most individuals would have backed down from their convictions.
I am indebted to Napoleon Hill’s famous book, Think and Grow Rich, for this particular story, which I will retell in my own words. This story was unfamiliar to me, but has given me much to think about as I have recently re-read it.
In the spring of 1770, the folks in Boston were having problems because the British troops were patrolling the streets and threatening them. The British resented the fact that the colonists were getting feisty and the colonists resented the fact that England was still trying to control them.
The colonists began to rebel openly, throwing stones at the soldiers and similar things. In return, the soldiers acted as soldiers will and retaliated.
A group of prominent colonists called the Provincial Assembly called a meeting to discuss what to do. Two of the members of this assembly were John Hancock and Samuel Adams. John and Samuel insisted that something had to be done and their demand was that the soldiers had to be forced out of Boston.
Now, try to picture what this would have been like: A small group of men meet together and decide that they are going to get rid of the ruling government because they felt that it was right to do. It was unusual, to say the least.
Rather than act as today’s terrorists do, these men behaved in a civilized manner. Samuel Adams was chosen to visit the governor and demand that the British troops be withdrawn. The governor recognized the wisdom of this request, wanting to cool the situation down, but he considered the matter to be closed and nothing changed.
Next, the colonists organized another committee - the Committee of Correspondence. Their purpose was to discuss what course to take as they wanted to move the colonies forward so that they could manage their own affairs.
Meanwhile, the British leaders decided that the governor of Massachusetts had behaved in a wimpy sort of way and replaced him by a stiffer sort of fellow, Governor Gage. Gage’s first act was to take care of Samuel Adams. His purpose was to intimidate him into stopping his rebel-rousing behavior.
Gage sent a Colonel Fenton on his behalf who told Samuel Adams that he had been authorized to award him certain “benefits” if he would stop doing what he was currently doing. However, if he persisted, the crown would consider his actions treasonous. The punishment for treason? Death by hanging.
Samuel Adams was at crossroads. What he decided would change his life. And, as it turned out, it was a moment of decision for the future United States of America.
He was faced with the decision of whether or not to cease opposing the British government and accept the bribes that Colonel Fenton had just offered him. If he did, his life would take on a smoother course. Or he could keep struggling for what he believed in and risk being hanged.
He had no time to go off and think about it. He couldn’t say, “Let me sleep on it and get back to you.” He had to decide then - at that moment - what to do.
Many men would have been so frightened that they would have backed down. The thoughts of their family being without them and the loss of their life would certainly be terrifying. But Samuel Adams held in his mind a purpose that was greater than his own life: freedom for the colonies.
Samuel Adams replied, “You may tell Governor Gage that I trust I have long since made my peace with the King of Kings. No personal consideration shall induce me to abandon the righteous cause of my country. And, tell Governor Gage, it is the advice of Samuel Adams to him, no longer to insult the feelings of an exasperated people.”
After this exchange the die was cast. Events spiraled forward, the First Continental Congress was held in 1774 and eventually the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.
You may be thinking that while this story is interesting, it has nothing to do with your own life. But, the thing that I would like to pull out of the story today is the single act of courage by Samuel Adams. It is this act that fascinates me.
I think we all have similar moments of decision. While they do not lead to the type of political upheaval that changes the course of history, they have the possibility of changing the course of our lives. In the very least, our decisions leave us with consequences to deal with, good and bad.
The moments of decision are usually small.
- We choose to bite our tongue when we want to reply in a like manner when something nasty has been said to us.
- We choose to walk away instead of standing and laughing when someone tells a joke that offends our personal belief system.
- We say softly, “I rather like so-and-so,” when the crowd begins tearing someone (who isn’t there at the time) apart with gossip.
- We point out to the clerk at the grocery store that they have just given us too much change by mistake.
- We admit that we have made a mistake and offer to correct it, even though it is likely that the mistake would never be discovered.
I believe that if we become practiced in making correct decisions, it is easier for us to act as Samuel Adams did. We will not wonder if we should take the bribe and walk away from what matters to us.
There is a little poem that explains how our decision making ability can be whittled away, bit by bit.
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Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
John Bartlett, Familiar Quotations
Boston: Little Brown and Co., 1968, p. 409
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Tomorrow, when the United States of America celebrates acts of courage, let us consider our own choices. Let’s celebrate the times we have acted courageously. Let’s learn from the moments we have not chosen well.
Here’s to the courage it takes to act in a better way.
- Ro
Muse: To be absorbed in one's thoughts; engage in meditation. Not intended to solve the world's problems, another person's problems, or to cover topics completely. One does not have to agree with musings to enjoy them, just as one does not have to be the same as someone else to appreciate who they are.
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