A few years ago I got a call from my boss telling me a speaker had canceled at an interactive marketing conference and I needed to get on a plane and fill her spot the next day. The conference was in Boston. Now I had lived at one time for 15 years in DC, but for some strange reason never been to Boston.
Normally when I travel for work, which I used to do a lot more than I care to admit, I plan and plan so I can play in the town I am in. Didn't have a chance this time, so after I was done with work I just jumped into a cab and said "take me downtown."
I got dropped off in what I'd call an outdoor mall. From the amount of tourist it must have been a popular spot. But I thought to myself, Boston has to be cooler than this. I walked into what looked like a historical building at the end of it, shoved a $20 into the donation box, and waited for a Park Ranger to tell me where I was.
I was in Faneuil Hall. What I learned in the next 30 minutes is what a lot of my fellow Americans need to learn as well. Sure we have a right to free speech, but we also have a history of civil discourse.
I learned Faneuil Hall was built in 1740. The first floor was an open market where farmers brought their goods from the country side to sell. The second floor was a hall, where folks debated the topics of the day. They still do to this very day.
Samuel Adams spoke there encouraging independence from Great Britain. Frederick Douglass argued for the end of slavery. Heck, John Kerry gave his concession speech there in 2004.
The Park Ranger, on a pretty modest stage with the busts of famous American after famous American behind him explained to us it didn't matter if you were rich or poor, black or white, male or female, if you wanted to say something you could.
That debate and civil discourse were apart of America.
As I sat there I started to tear up. Maybe it was because I hadn't sleep for like 48 hours. Maybe cause I was in this amazing place, thousands of people downstairs buying tourist junk, but only about a dozen of us listening to the Ranger.
It just made me sad.
I feel the same why now as I watch the news. What has happened to our country?