THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 22, 2023 Page 7 ~ The Old Sachem ~ A Tea Party By Bill Stewart I n high school they taught us that the colonists grew angry about the King of England, who raised the cost of tea for them. England gathered tea from India and China by a company called the East India Company. We call it an act of disobedience; the English called it an insurrection. On December 16, 1773, a group of revolutionaries gathered to board, in disguise as Indians, the ships carrying tea to Boston and proceeded to dump 340 chests of tea into Boston Harbor in the area known as Griffin’s Wharf. This amounted to about 92,000 pounds of tea, which in our current time would be worth about $1.7 million. Other territories from New York to the Carolinas also had tea delivered and did nothing about it. It was a revolutionary response to the arbitrary power of England. Most of this was taught in history classes in high school, but there is more to the story than what you learned. A Boston merchant, John Edwards, sent a letter to a friend in Philadelphia describing the actions of the revolutionaries. “They mustered, I am told, on Fort Hill, to the number of about two hundred, and proceeded two by two to Griffin’s Wharf, where … before nine-o’clock in the evening every chest on board the three vessels was knocked to pieces and flung over the sides. They say the actors were Indians from Narragansett. Whether they were or not, to a transient observer they appeared as such, being enclosed in Blankets with the heads muffled, and copper colored countenances, being each armed with a hatchet or ax and pair of pistols.” The Boston revolutionaries later sent Paul Revere on horseback to New York City to relay the news about the Boston Tea Party, part of an effort by Sam Adams and his cronies to dramatize and publicize the event and to gather support among the colonies. The actions of the revolutionaries would lead to rebellion. The English closed the port to stop commerce coming in and out of the harbor, which was the mainstay How to Avoid Excessive Alcohol Use During the Holidays T he run-up to Christmas Day and days between then and New Year’s Day can seem like an endless drinking session. There seems always to be an excuse to crack open a bottle of booze. Whether at family gatherings, work parties, or any festive gathering, people are drinking, often in excess. Even social drinkers tend to find themselves consuming more alcohol than usual. It can be challenging to avoid the pitfalls of excessive alcohol use during the holidays and refusing alcohol in social situations. Yet, it is not impossible, and there are practical approaches anyone can use to turn down a drink, whether you are young, middle-aged, or a senior. In Massachusetts, the state ranks 14th highest among the states for binge drinking. Roughly 59% of Bay State adults (18+) drink and 26% binge drink. It’s no secret that people tend to drink more during the holidays. The key to success is to practice saying no to alcohol; whether it is a legitimate reason or a wild made-up excuse, it all works. Try being direct and honASKS| FROM PAGE 6 We would meet at our friend Lisa’s house before the tree lighting, have pizza and then all walk down together. As the years went by and our kids est at first, and say things like “No thanks, I don’t drink anymore,” “Alcohol does not mix well with me, “I can’t drink because my alcohol use gets out of hand sometimes,” or “I’ve decided I feel better without alcohol in my life.” If you cannot be straightforward, invent clever excuses, such as “I am taking a prescription I cannot mix with alcohol,” “I am training for a marathon, I can’t drink,” “Drinking is against my religion,” “No thanks, I get really belligerent when I drink,” or “Before I accept, I should warn you I brought a guitar with me.” Another successful alternative is to bring your own non-alcoholic beverages. This can be the perfect time to try some holiday mocktails. For many of us, having a drink in hand makes us feel more comfortable in social situations. It also makes it less likely that someone else will pressure us to drink alcohol. Or step into the designated driver role. This is one of the easiest excuses for not drinking at a holiday party. If you are the designated driver, you will have no explaining to do. Most people use the responsibility excuse; the average perwent in different directions, we still remained friends. This year I went to Lisa’s house and it’s as if we never stopped. These are the people who I love having in my life. We laugh, we joke but most of all of the locals financially. The colonial government of Massachusetts was suspended. A new Governor was appointed and he tried to change the way the patriots were going and suspended Town Meetings. As we know now, this approach didn’t work and eventually war with England ended the standoff. Shawn Quigley, who is the lead ranger for the National Park Service’s social justice team stationed in Faneuil Hall, referred to the action as “identity-building foundation block,” and Evan O’Brien, creative director of the Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum, said, “the idea that ordinary citizens can do extraordinary things.” Now you know some of the details the history class didn’t elaborate. (Editor’s Note: Bill Stewart, who is better known to Saugus Advocate readers as “The “The Old Sachem,” Bill Stewart (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Joanie Allbee) Old Sachem,” writes a weekly column about sports – and sometimes he opines on current or historical events or famous people.) Marcel Gemme 8 Norwood St. Everett son will not argue with obligations, whether you say you have to work or have an early morning or another responsibility. Most adults have places to be and things to get done, especially if they have kids. Christmas is a joyous time of year; never lose sight of the true meaning. Take this time to create new memories and traditions without the influence of alcohol. Marcel Gemme is the founder of DRS and has been helping people struggling with substance use for over 20 years. His work focuses on a threefold approach: education, prevention, and rehabilitation. we have seen each other and our kids through life events. I couldn’t feel more blessed to sip hot chocolate, walk down to the center and see the lights go on with a great group of friends. (617) 387-9810 Open Daily 4:00 PM Closed Sunday Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Monday & Tuesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s HOLIDAY SHOP LOCAL & DROP BY FOR DINNER! www.eight10barandgrille.com
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