The 22nd Day of February
February 22nd 2009 12:58
George Washington was born on Feb. 22. Today we celebrate his birthday amid the downfall of the country he loved so much. Neither President Washington nor any of the Founding Fathers would recognize what has become of the country they pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to build.
The early USA was a country based on freedom, faith in God, and the willingness to work. All the people expected of their government was for it to regulate currency, make reasonable laws for the protection of citizens and use the military in defense of the population (and borders). The beacon of freedom was shining brightly all over the world. People arrived with nothing and built fortunes. They learned English, went to school (those that could afford to), and worked tirelessly to make a better future for themselves and their families. Their "work ethic" was what built this country and moved the borders from coast to coast. Towns sprouted along rivers and fertile farmlands fed the growing population. People from all over the world worked together in the building of a great country, leaving the old ways and the old world behind. America was the great Melting Pot. Opportunities abounded, equality reigned. President Washington led America through the first few years of independence.
His vision of the future probably didn't include the Civil War, automobiles, or walking on the moon. It also probably didn't hold images of crooked politicians, drugs, and socialism. What he and the other Founders did see ahead was the growth of this country and it's ability to be a main factor in world events. They saw the potentials for good and evil, and the Constitution was written to cover all the eventualities they could imagine. President Washington took an oath to uphold that Constitution and protect this country from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Every president since then has taken the same oath. Most of them took it seriously.
If President Washington arose from the dead and walked the streets of America today, would he recognize anything? Would he notice that large groups of people can't even speak English? Would he be confused by ragged people holding signs and begging for food? How would he feel about drugs and pornography being so ingrained into our society? Would he ask what "welfare" meant? It's not the same as when he was in office, for sure. Promoting the "general welfare" had nothing to do with giving away taxpayers money. The idea of taking money from those who earn it and giving it to those who don't would have been abhorrent to him. Spending tax dollars to kill babies would have been unthinkable to all the Founding Fathers. He would undoubtedly be astounded by the athiests getting their way and removing God from the public venue. It would horrify him that freedom of the press is under assault and that those who have accepted the responsibility of getting news to the citizens have become so selective in what they report. Censorship would disgust him (especially political censorship, which was once forbidden by the First Amendment. Now it's used to justify all sorts of aberrant behavior being publicized.)
George Washington was out First President. He presided over the birth of America and delivered her into capable hands for the formative years. He would have been proud of American ingenuity, progress, leadership and courage for many years.
I don't know exactly the moment this country started down the slippery slope to ruination. I'm pretty sure it started during the last century, though. The work ethic became ill and feeble among a large group of people. Entitlements from the government abounded as government grew. God and morality were shoved further and further back while hedonistic pleasures took center stage. The line between right and wrong became blurry and indistinct as faith in God was abandoned. Individual freedom superseded individual responsibility.
Would President George Washington recognize The United States of America, if he came back from the grave? Probably not. If he did, he could never rest in peace again. It's just as well (for him) that he can't see what happened to the wonderful country he first led.
Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
The early USA was a country based on freedom, faith in God, and the willingness to work. All the people expected of their government was for it to regulate currency, make reasonable laws for the protection of citizens and use the military in defense of the population (and borders). The beacon of freedom was shining brightly all over the world. People arrived with nothing and built fortunes. They learned English, went to school (those that could afford to), and worked tirelessly to make a better future for themselves and their families. Their "work ethic" was what built this country and moved the borders from coast to coast. Towns sprouted along rivers and fertile farmlands fed the growing population. People from all over the world worked together in the building of a great country, leaving the old ways and the old world behind. America was the great Melting Pot. Opportunities abounded, equality reigned. President Washington led America through the first few years of independence.
His vision of the future probably didn't include the Civil War, automobiles, or walking on the moon. It also probably didn't hold images of crooked politicians, drugs, and socialism. What he and the other Founders did see ahead was the growth of this country and it's ability to be a main factor in world events. They saw the potentials for good and evil, and the Constitution was written to cover all the eventualities they could imagine. President Washington took an oath to uphold that Constitution and protect this country from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Every president since then has taken the same oath. Most of them took it seriously.
If President Washington arose from the dead and walked the streets of America today, would he recognize anything? Would he notice that large groups of people can't even speak English? Would he be confused by ragged people holding signs and begging for food? How would he feel about drugs and pornography being so ingrained into our society? Would he ask what "welfare" meant? It's not the same as when he was in office, for sure. Promoting the "general welfare" had nothing to do with giving away taxpayers money. The idea of taking money from those who earn it and giving it to those who don't would have been abhorrent to him. Spending tax dollars to kill babies would have been unthinkable to all the Founding Fathers. He would undoubtedly be astounded by the athiests getting their way and removing God from the public venue. It would horrify him that freedom of the press is under assault and that those who have accepted the responsibility of getting news to the citizens have become so selective in what they report. Censorship would disgust him (especially political censorship, which was once forbidden by the First Amendment. Now it's used to justify all sorts of aberrant behavior being publicized.)
George Washington was out First President. He presided over the birth of America and delivered her into capable hands for the formative years. He would have been proud of American ingenuity, progress, leadership and courage for many years.
I don't know exactly the moment this country started down the slippery slope to ruination. I'm pretty sure it started during the last century, though. The work ethic became ill and feeble among a large group of people. Entitlements from the government abounded as government grew. God and morality were shoved further and further back while hedonistic pleasures took center stage. The line between right and wrong became blurry and indistinct as faith in God was abandoned. Individual freedom superseded individual responsibility.
Would President George Washington recognize The United States of America, if he came back from the grave? Probably not. If he did, he could never rest in peace again. It's just as well (for him) that he can't see what happened to the wonderful country he first led.
Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
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