Bring the Jubilee?
Apr. 8th, 2025 11:28 amAt the Hands-Off rally in Boston on Saturday, somebody climbed up on one of those concrete benches dividing the street from the City Hall Plaza. He had a flag on a flagpole, and he waved it back and forth a few times. Then he started belting out the national anthem. After a few lines, people joined in, and cheered at the end. It was great--an inspiration for those of us who are shy about not being able to sing, and a wonderful statement that protesting against Trump is protesting FOR America.
I wish I could link to a picture, but of course I didn't take one. I saw a video Saturday night and didn't save it because I thought it would be easy to find again. Hah.
I still had the image in my head, and on Sunday I put it together with another picture. The one called "The Soiling of Old Glory," of a Bostonian using a flagpole with evil intent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soiling_of_Old_Glory#/media/File:Soiling_of_Old_Glory.jpg
I remembered that the guy with the flagpole was protesting court-ordered busing to integrate public schools. I didn't know he was prosecuted for assault with a deadly weapon, which is vaguely reassuring, even though he got a suspended prison sentence. And I really didn't know it happened right next to Boston City Hall on April 5, 1976. Exactly 49 years ago.
49 years is special, even if nobody has ever seen a real jubilee with release of prisoners and forgiveness of debts. Maybe now.
I wish I could link to a picture, but of course I didn't take one. I saw a video Saturday night and didn't save it because I thought it would be easy to find again. Hah.
I still had the image in my head, and on Sunday I put it together with another picture. The one called "The Soiling of Old Glory," of a Bostonian using a flagpole with evil intent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soiling_of_Old_Glory#/media/File:Soiling_of_Old_Glory.jpg
I remembered that the guy with the flagpole was protesting court-ordered busing to integrate public schools. I didn't know he was prosecuted for assault with a deadly weapon, which is vaguely reassuring, even though he got a suspended prison sentence. And I really didn't know it happened right next to Boston City Hall on April 5, 1976. Exactly 49 years ago.
49 years is special, even if nobody has ever seen a real jubilee with release of prisoners and forgiveness of debts. Maybe now.