2 Comments
May 15Liked by Lindsay M. Chervinsky

This makes me wonder about the practice of letter writing today. After COVID, it was clear that in-person communication differed in significant ways from virtual communication. I have a friend with whom I communicate through the post on a regular basis. We also participate in the more common email, zoom, text, etc.. But the letter writing feels like a different kind of communication. And, given its significance in the JQA era, maybe the space to think between receiving and responding to information is an important missing piece in our modern instant distance interactions. Thanks so much for continuing to shed light on the past and helping provide context for our present experiences.

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The Oak tree symbol is perfect.

Disney in their 1957 movie Johnny Tremain made up a song for the Sons of Liberty. For a long time I thought they were saying Oak tree then they were saying Old tree.

Plant the seed in our homeland, boys

Let it grow where all can see

Feed it with our devotion, boys

Call it the Liberty Tree

It's a tall, old Tree and a strong, old Tree

And we are the Sons, yes, we are the Sons

The Sons of Liberty

Save it from the storm, boys

Water down its roots with tea

And the sun will always shine

On the old Liberty Tree

It's a tall, old Tree and a strong, old Tree

And we are the Sons, yes, we are the Sons

The Sons of Liberty

March along with the fifer, boys

We were born forever free

Let's go pay the piper, boys

Beneath the Liberty Tree

It's a tall, old Tree and a strong, old Tree

And we are the Sons, yes, we are the Sons

The Sons of Liberty

Pay the price they're asking, boys

Always pay the tyrant's fee

Never give up the struggle, boys

Fight for the Liberty Tree

It's a tall, old Tree and a strong, old Tree

And we are the Sons, yes, we are the Sons

The Sons of Liberty

Stand for the rights of man, boys

Stand against all tyranny

Hang the lamps of freedom, boys

High on the Liberty Tree

It's a tall, old Tree and a strong, old Tree

And we are the Sons, yes, we are the Sons

The Sons of Liberty

It will grow as we grow, boys

It will be as strong as we

We must cling to our faith, boys

Faith in the Liberty Tree

It's a tall, old Tree and a strong, old Tree

And we are the Sons, yes, we are the Sons

The Sons of Liberty

It could have been an Oak tree

As to letter wring, my mother was a big letter writer. When stationed in Nha Trang RVN I corresponded with about 14 people from family and friends from home.

One of the reasons I adore reading old transcripts such as the Federalist Papers is the language! The command these men had of the English language. Many of the words are no longer in common use. Texting and email have reduce my letter writing and my use of the words available to me to make my correspondence clear and precise.

I should reverse course and write more letters!!

Thank you for this expose of letter writing and its importance

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