tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post6560150822844305692..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Swiftboating Samuel AdamsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-57000770211812328052008-05-30T12:02:00.000-05:002008-05-30T12:02:00.000-05:00Clicking on the “Samuel Adams” links in postings o...Clicking on the <A HREF="http://boston1775.blogspot.com/search/label/Samuel%20Adams" REL="nofollow">“Samuel Adams” links</A> in postings or in the column on the right will bring up dozens of articles on different aspects of the man to skim through. <BR/><BR/>The one that summarizes my overall impression of Adams most clearly is probably <A HREF="http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2006/06/samuel-adams-beyond-caricature.html" REL="nofollow">one of the earliest</A>. In essence, I think he has a lot of the qualities that lots of modern American political conservatives admire, which makes conservative authors’ wild criticism of the man so baffling and ironic.<BR/><BR/>Among those traits are aspects of Samuel Adams the politician that I <I>don’t</I> admire. He was a religious bigot, he tried to impose his values on other people’s private activities (no theater in Boston!), and he was not interested in reforming or ameliorating the traditional structure of society. Even his own admirers in the next generation felt he was a throwback to the Puritans.<BR/><BR/>While there’s no evidence that Adams led mobs, he minimized or excused their violence in some of his newspaper writings. Contrary to the common image of him as a propagandist, however, it’s rare to find falsehoods in those articles. He simply presented his side of the issues over and over, with every argument he could muster, and he refused any compromise with the friends of the royal government.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-63635295438801003142008-05-30T00:09:00.000-05:002008-05-30T00:09:00.000-05:00would love to read more about Sam Adams from your ...would love to read more about Sam Adams from your perspective, considering your background and your specific focus on Boston.<BR/><BR/>enlighten us...<BR/><BR/>thanks.klkatzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08972547410066863818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-65744807081528013502008-05-23T23:52:00.000-05:002008-05-23T23:52:00.000-05:00Thanks so much for your insights in the Hallahan b...Thanks so much for your insights in the Hallahan book. My fascination with the Revolutionary era is quite new so I'm still learning plenty and would easily fall prey to such carelessness.<BR/><BR/>As it is, I had Hallahan's book on my shelf to read in the near future. The idea of the book, as you mentioned, was very cool and fresh and convinced me to buy a copy I found at a used bookstore not too long ago. Making mistakes in research is one thing. Blatant bias and ignoring facts to "support" your bias is quite another. It's reckless and dangerous to "newer" students like myself. <BR/><BR/>So, thank you for the heads-up and I'll be avoiding this book now for sure. My consolation is that I got the book at a used book store, so my money spent on it won't be going to support such reckless work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-44841889626418793672008-05-23T22:01:00.000-05:002008-05-23T22:01:00.000-05:00Wonderful blog, I really enjoyed it.Thanks,Wonderful blog, I really enjoyed it.<BR/>Thanks,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-12500149069363284272008-05-23T12:48:00.000-05:002008-05-23T12:48:00.000-05:00Thanks! Here’s an image of that mezzotint from an ...Thanks! Here’s an <A HREF="http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/4965783" REL="nofollow">image of that mezzotint</A> from an auction house. It looks like it was designed off of John S. Copley’s portrait of Adams, commissioned by John Hancock.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-47351328546066547262008-05-23T11:26:00.000-05:002008-05-23T11:26:00.000-05:00Been meaning to send you this tidbit from the Bost...Been meaning to send you this tidbit from the Boston Gazette April 3, 1775:<BR/><BR/>"In a few days to be Published, (Price Half a Dollar)<BR/>A fine Mezzotinto Print of that truly worthy Patriot S.A. the size of the Print 14 inches by 10 and half, Executed adn Published by and for Charles Reek and Samuel Okey, in Newport, Rhode Island, to whom Letters sent will be duly answered; and to be sold by Edes adn Gill, and James Foster Condy, in Boston."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com