All week, I kept telling myself that I was going to post a note about this on December 14. Then, December 14 came and.....well....I forgot. So, please forgive my being a day late on this, but...
Yesterday, December 14 is the anniversary of the death of George Washington, the father of our country. In the days that followed, Americans awoke to the news that they would have to press on without their greatest leader.
If you'll pardon the borderline hero worship, I have studied George Washington extensively. And, in spite of his flaws (slavery being the biggest), I truly believe George Washington was the greatest statesman this nation has ever known. And I think that, without Washington, the United States of America would have never come to be.
He was the indispensable man - and he remains the greatest of all Americans.
If you haven't checked out Mount Vernon in a while, take a look at their website. And the next time you're in the DC area, stop by. They've made a lot of changes to the estate, and it's definitely worth some of your time to visit.
6 comments:
Brian:
Your near hero worship is well-founded. Washington was one of the most important Americans ever to live. Gordon Wood had no problem proclaiming him as the greatest President America has (or ever will) put in office. Another historian stated that Washington was, "the palpable reality that clothed the revolutionary rhapsodies in flesh and blood...America's one and only indispensable character...the American Zeus, Moses and Cincinnatus all rolled into one." If this is hero worship then count me in!
Washington's last words were "Tis well." I would second his final remarks..."Tis well" everything he accomplished.
I think that it is not hero worship but simply the acknowledgement that this nation simply would not exist if not for George Washington. I sometimes wonderful what alternate course this continent would have followed if only one of those musket balls fired at him at the battle at the Monogehela River had found its mark. Indeispensible is right. Even today, look at the "official" portraits taken by the president with foreign officials. Whose portrait is most often in the backgrond? Not Jefferson or Admas I can tell you.
Washington was a good guy, but he had tons of flaws too. I think its funny that he freed his slaves only AFTER his wife was dead. Needless to say, Martha was in such fear of being killed that she freed the slaves a month after Washington's death.
Yes Raven, it is true what you say about Washington freeing his slaves upon the death of his wife. I don't think many people will argue that Washington owning slaves was a bad thing (as it was for all who owned slaves). Nobody ever said Washington was perfect. Even though he was flawed (like any other person) he should still be revered as one of the most important Americans (if not the most important) in all of American history.
Raven, I don't think Martha was in fear for her life. That wasn't the reason she freed the slaves. I think it was out of respect for her husband's wishes.
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