Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Recalling the wisdom of our first president
Today marks the 280th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. Historically, it was a special time to reflect on the virtues of our first president and what he meant to our fledgling nation.
Children used to memorize fragments of Henry Lee's funeral oration, in which he said of Washington, "First in war -- first in peace -- and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life; pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere; uniform, dignified and commanding, his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting."
In our cynical age, such tributes ring false. Today, we know our heroes more for their faults than for their virtues. The too visible feet of clay stand on the ground, easily accessible. We focus too much on what makes our leaders common and too little on what makes them great. No political figure escapes the tsunami of negative advertising that attends success.
While we may be up-to-date on scandal mongering, surveys consistently reveal Americans' astonishing lack of historical awareness. We forget how close we came to losing the founding conflict. We sanitize the Revolutionary War for amusement park consumption and overlook Washington's humanity, trials and leadership.
Worse, several generations of Americans have been subjected to revisionist histories in service of a radical political agenda. Prominent among historians of the left is the late Howard Zinn, author of The People's History of the United States, long a required text in many high school history classes. Zinn claimed the Founders intended "to set up a new government that would protect the property of slave owners, land speculators, merchants, and bondholders." He celebrated the heroism of the soldiers who mutinied against Washington.
The seeds of the Occupy movement are sown in the classrooms that casually denigrate the architects of our republic and the principles that guided them. We all suffer as a result.
We lost something important with the arrival of a generic Presidents' Day. It's like youth sports teams where everyone gets a trophy. A presidents' day holiday that honors all presidents simply celebrates election winners. They made the team and get their pictures on the wall. That's not enough to merit a day of recognition and reflection. We used to know better.
In 1903, in a commemoration of Washington's birthday, Jane Addams explained the importance of such occasions.
"We meet together upon these birthdays of our great men, not only to review their lives but to revive and cherish our own patriotism," said Addams, a prominent social worker and Nobel Peace prize recipient.
She reviewed Washington's careers -- soldier, statesman and Virginia planter -- and concluded: "The lessons of great men are lost unless they reinforce upon our minds the highest demands which we make upon ourselves."
We now see those lessons clearly taught in the annual observances of Martin Luther King Day. The celebrations of King's life, the documentaries, speeches, and memorials keep his vision and spirit alive.
Great leaders should not be allowed to recede from memory with the passage of time.
Washington's Farewell Address, delivered at the conclusion of his second term, resonates compellingly this election year. We can still find wisdom in Washington's warnings against division.
"Citizens … of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections," he said. "With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits and political principles. You have in common cause fought and triumphed together."
A vastly more diverse nation today, our shades of difference are less slight. Still, we must find ways to bridge them. Washington, confronting the divisions of his time, sought unity. A man of faith, as well as a champion of religious freedom and tolerance, he saw religion as foundational.
"Reason and experience," he said in his farewell address, "both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."
A more secular and sectarian America continues to struggle with notions of morality, religion and law. Consensus is elusive. These are tense times -- and the right time to take a moment to remember the beliefs and virtues of America's indispensable man.
Richard S. Davis, president of the Washington Research Council, writes on public policy, economics and politics. His email address is rsdavis@simeonpartners.com.
Children used to memorize fragments of Henry Lee's funeral oration, in which he said of Washington, "First in war -- first in peace -- and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life; pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere; uniform, dignified and commanding, his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting."
In our cynical age, such tributes ring false. Today, we know our heroes more for their faults than for their virtues. The too visible feet of clay stand on the ground, easily accessible. We focus too much on what makes our leaders common and too little on what makes them great. No political figure escapes the tsunami of negative advertising that attends success.
While we may be up-to-date on scandal mongering, surveys consistently reveal Americans' astonishing lack of historical awareness. We forget how close we came to losing the founding conflict. We sanitize the Revolutionary War for amusement park consumption and overlook Washington's humanity, trials and leadership.
Worse, several generations of Americans have been subjected to revisionist histories in service of a radical political agenda. Prominent among historians of the left is the late Howard Zinn, author of The People's History of the United States, long a required text in many high school history classes. Zinn claimed the Founders intended "to set up a new government that would protect the property of slave owners, land speculators, merchants, and bondholders." He celebrated the heroism of the soldiers who mutinied against Washington.
The seeds of the Occupy movement are sown in the classrooms that casually denigrate the architects of our republic and the principles that guided them. We all suffer as a result.
We lost something important with the arrival of a generic Presidents' Day. It's like youth sports teams where everyone gets a trophy. A presidents' day holiday that honors all presidents simply celebrates election winners. They made the team and get their pictures on the wall. That's not enough to merit a day of recognition and reflection. We used to know better.
In 1903, in a commemoration of Washington's birthday, Jane Addams explained the importance of such occasions.
"We meet together upon these birthdays of our great men, not only to review their lives but to revive and cherish our own patriotism," said Addams, a prominent social worker and Nobel Peace prize recipient.
She reviewed Washington's careers -- soldier, statesman and Virginia planter -- and concluded: "The lessons of great men are lost unless they reinforce upon our minds the highest demands which we make upon ourselves."
We now see those lessons clearly taught in the annual observances of Martin Luther King Day. The celebrations of King's life, the documentaries, speeches, and memorials keep his vision and spirit alive.
Great leaders should not be allowed to recede from memory with the passage of time.
Washington's Farewell Address, delivered at the conclusion of his second term, resonates compellingly this election year. We can still find wisdom in Washington's warnings against division.
"Citizens … of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections," he said. "With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits and political principles. You have in common cause fought and triumphed together."
A vastly more diverse nation today, our shades of difference are less slight. Still, we must find ways to bridge them. Washington, confronting the divisions of his time, sought unity. A man of faith, as well as a champion of religious freedom and tolerance, he saw religion as foundational.
"Reason and experience," he said in his farewell address, "both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."
A more secular and sectarian America continues to struggle with notions of morality, religion and law. Consensus is elusive. These are tense times -- and the right time to take a moment to remember the beliefs and virtues of America's indispensable man.
Richard S. Davis, president of the Washington Research Council, writes on public policy, economics and politics. His email address is rsdavis@simeonpartners.com.
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