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| a younger Washington |
Today is his birthday (yes, I know, Monday was
I remember being given a dry, boring, rather perfunctory image of Washington in public schools while growing up.
"The Father of Our Country" - whatever that meant?
A likeness of the Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington in old age. No smile, worn, powdered wig. He appeared formal, unreachable. Old.
It wasn't until I was well into adulthood that I took an interest in the man and his life and accomplishments.
My favorite story about George Washington was as he was an active farmer, he was quite strong. He could crack walnuts as a nutcracker between his thumb and forefinger!
He wasn't a great thinker, like Jefferson, but he kept growing in character.
As such, after the Revolution, he resigned his commission in the army, and returned to farming.
He later refused to run for a third Presidential term and did the same.
He could have been a king, had he chosen to be. But he chose to be a servant to the People of this Constitutional Republic.
And that's his gift to the People.
Thank you surveyor, farmer, distiller, humble man with a huge ego.
And to us - we should all strive to keep growing in character.
Go read the link, above.
h/t David Boaz
Use to have a separate holidays for Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays. Then they combined them into "Presidents Day". It was closer to Washington's birthday. I believe Lincoln's was the 12th and Washington's was the 22nd.
ReplyDeleteWith this new "President's Day" any idiot who has served in that office can claim to be a part of the holiday. As though our current idiot can compare to to Lincoln or Washington.
It was the retailers who christened it President's Day.
ReplyDeleteThe Feds consider it GW's B'Day. Of course, the whole purpose is to give fed employees a three day weekend, at least once a month.
So much for honoring anyone.
I guess ol' George could have been worse. Yeah, by all the stories he kept us out of a monarchy by refusing a crown. Not sure how true those stories are, but it's possible.
ReplyDeleteThen I remember the whole Whiskey Rebellion thing, and ...
Just think...what about Aaron Burr?
DeleteMy daughter had to chose one person from history to do a report on and dress up like for a class presentation. There are 7 girls in her class...2 are Helen Keller, 3 are Susan B Anthony, 1 is Elizabeth Cady Stanton and my little 8 year old chose George Washington.
ReplyDeleteVery cool!
DeleteJoined the comment opt out brigade.
ReplyDeleteUnderstood
Delete