"Listen my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere...." Sound familiar? It should - it's the opening line to a poem recounting Revere's famous ride, which took place on April 18, 1775. A journey, that, if nothing else, gave Tufts students a day off.
Patriot's Day is right around the corner and, for most Americans, that means... nothing. It seems that very few people know why Paul Revere was in such a rush to get where he was going - and fewer seem to care.
For starters Patriot's Day has nothing to do with the football team of the same name. And despite misconceptions to the contrary, the members of the New England Patriots football team are not the men this day was meant to honor.
"Patriot's Day? Isn't that to celebrate patriots? The New England Patriots? The team?" sophomore Pam Chu asked.
Football isn't the only sport that has replaced the true meaning of Patriot's Day for many Massachusetts residents. The Boston Marathon, which is held on Patriot's Day each year, also distracts Massachusetts residents from the meaning of the day. Two hundred and twenty six years after Revere, spirited Bostonians are once again running through the streets.
For some students, it's the original Bostonians who come to mind when Patriot's Day rolls around. "When I think about Patriot's Day, I imagine those guys with the triangular hats," junior Joe Lomakin said.
His guess approaches the holiday's true meaning. It is men like Paul Revere who Patriot's Day is meant to honor. But no one seems to care. "I am not sure there is much to know, so I don't think ignorance is a problem," Lomakin said.
The student body's general ignorance on the subject seems ironic at a prestigious New England university like Tufts. Most students disregard the fact that Medford is just down the road from the heart of the major battles of Lexington and Concord. The "shot heard 'round the world" was fired practically in Tufts' backyard and served as a catalyst for the colonies to escape from the tyranny of King George III. What followed was a bloody struggle to win freedom that led to the creation of the United States.
Today, Patriot's Day is only observed in Maine and Massachusetts, as the holiday focuses primarily on the battles of Lexington and Concord. Why Maine? At the time of the American Rrevolution, the territory that now comprises the state of Maine was still part of Massachusetts.
According to some college students, the events of 226 years ago bear little significance on their lives in 2001. "Patriots Day means nothing to me. My generation isn't fighting wars," said Ilya Dreyster, a junior.
But for those American history buffs interested in observing Patriot's Day - other than simply enjoying cancelled classes - Concord is brimming with historical sites and museums that are sure to stir up admiration for early America.
"Patriots Day is a day to reflect on the greatness of this nation and its history," sophomore Dan Fynx said.
