I love George Washington.
Why?
Because I have been to his house.
~~~
For three years I lived just a mile from Mt. Vernon - so I could go there any time I wanted.
I should never have gone on his birthday because it is always free on that day and everyone
goes to Mt. Vernon on George Washington's birthday. It was silly of me to go that day since
I ended up not even going into his house after exchanging dirty looks and maybe a few harsh
words with a guy over a parking space. In retrospect it was all my fault since I could have gone
anytime and he probably drove all the way from Montana to visit Mt. Vernon.
I hope he has forgotten the incident as the last place I want to appear mean and rude is at
George Washington's house.
~~~
I love George Washington - his house says what he was.
Simple at heart, elegant, functional and stately.
I walked through the room where he dined with friends.
Where he must have spent cherished time with his family.
I stood in awe beside the bed where he lay as he drew his last breath.
In the closet hung his long coat and there sat his boots.
The adjoining kitchen where his sl*ves faithfully and probably lovingly prepared his meals.
And the magnificant carriage lucky enough to carry him.
~~~
And I love George Washington for his unspeakable courage and loyalty to his troops as they
fought for us enduring unbelievable hardship at Valley Forge.
~~~
But most of all I love George Washington - because I have been to his house.
20 comments:
I admire Washington, too. But what I admire most, is that when he died, like Cincinnatus, he returned home, and left an empty crypt under the Capitol dome.
G_d Bless you, Sir!
-FJ - I didn't mention that George Washington had requested a very simple funeral but of course that was ignored.
Were you aware that what caused his death is that he rode around his plantation, snow made his clothes wet, he then went back into the house, took care of some paperwork and had dinner without taking time to change the wet clothes.
He became ill as a result and was not able to recover.
I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing, Sue.
AM - Please don't stay away so long.
Sounds like a fascinating place to visit. If I'm ever in the area, I'll look it up.
BTW I fixed the elephant video link at my site.
George W... it does have a ring to it ;-)
'George W...it does have a ring to it'
Watch your language, Cube, you're in Liberal territory now. :)
-FJ - Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
Was he the guy in Gladiator?
Nope, he wasn't the guy in gladiator. Cincinnatus lived at the time of the Roman Republic, before Caesar and the "Imperial Age" of Rome covered by the movie.
This is likely the distinction that Benjamin Franklin was referring to when asked by a bystander shortly after the Constitution was adopted, "What kind of country have you given us?" to which Franklin replied, "A Republic, IF you can keep it."
At some point, the government of a Republic gets too big and corrupt. Eventually, one of our President will refuse to leave at the end of his term. At that point in our history, America will cease to be a "republic" and will become an "empire".
...and our President will become a dictator like Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro.
-FJ - Well, I liked Gladiator even though it was a 'rip your heart out' kind of movie - kinda like Braveheart.
FJ - That Ben Franklin - he was so smart.
But, FJ, you say these things about
empires, Chavez and Castro - but it doesn't have to happen.
...but it doesn't have to happen.
Yeah, that's the sad part. It does have to happen. It will happen. It can't NOT happen. That's the lesson of history.
from the Jowett summary of Plato's, "Republic"... But how did timocracy arise out of the perfect State? Plainly, like all changes of government, from division in the rulers. But whence came division? 'Sing, heavenly Muses,' as Homer says;—let them condescend to answer us, as if we were children, to whom they put on a solemn face in jest. 'And what will they say?' They will say that human things are fated to decay, and even the perfect State will not escape from this law of destiny, when 'the wheel comes full circle' in a period short or long. Plants or animals have times of fertility and sterility, which the intelligence of rulers because alloyed by sense will not enable them to ascertain, and children will be born out of season. For whereas divine creations are in a perfect cycle or number, the human creation is in a number which declines from perfection...
Abso - While all you poetic yahoos are standing around waxing gloom and doom & negatively - I'll step up with my strength and wisdom - and save the country.
And if you are a real good boy, Marxo - I'll give you your choice of a prime cabinet post.
Cause I love your picture.
I'll take the China cabinet. ;)
When I was a lad our vacations always revolved around visiting family. My Mom's was in Massachusettes. Loved that area. All the Revolutionary War stuff. You're never wrong to pick Washington as your favorite president.
Joe - The time of the Revolutionary War is like surreal to me. These men - and the women in their background - were just the best.
They must have known that what they were doing would impact the world.
Now we have to pick up and carry on for their sake - and for ours.
Abso - You got it.
Tomorrow's post is for you.
Woo-Hoo!
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