Posts Tagged ‘George Washington’

Giving Washington His Due:
The Indispensable Man

by Judge Michael Warren, Oakland Circuit Court

Dear Fellow Patriots,

Two weeks ago we celebrated Presidents’ Day by being subjected to commercials and ads for those wonderful appliance and carpet sales.  If you are a government or bank employee, or a student, you likely had the day off. In any event, it was hardly worth the bother. The holiday is so empty that a quick google search reveals several different spellings – “Presidents” and “Presidents” and “President’s” are all used interchangeably.

Perhaps no one cares how to spell it because most find difficulty in expressing passion for an entire class of political leaders (think “Mayors’ Day” or “Senators‘ Day”).  This is especially true when the Presidents present at best a mixed bag of brilliance, irrelevance, and mischief.  Grouping Washington, Madison, and Lincoln with Pierce, Harding, and Nixon presents quite a stew.  Time to end the agony – and the holiday.

On the other hand, we need to revive Washington’s Birthday.  He was truly the indispensable man.  Washington’s scouting party wandered into a skirmish that sparked the French and Indian War.  That skirmish, in turn, caused the massive debt that led to taxation without representation and the accompanying onslaught on American liberties.  When the American Revolution began, Washington was tapped to lead the newly formed Continental Army.  General Washington courageously kept those ragtag troops together in the darkest of times, and stunned the world with an improbable victory over the greatest empire on the planet.  Washington astonished the world again by voluntarily retiring and returning to Mount Vernon.  History was not done with him, however, and the retired general was called back into service in a civilian capacity – to preside over the drafting of the Constitution.

He vigorously rejected overtures to establish a monarchy with him as King.  Instead, he became the first elected President, creating the precedents Presidents have relied upon ever since.  He shocked the world a third time by voluntarily stepping down after two terms.  When he heard this news, his life-long nemesis King George III declared Washington the “greatest character of the age.”

In a resolution passed by the House of Representatives following Washington’s death, Richard Henry Lee summarized America’s thoughts that he was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

Today, he is all but last.  Washington is often remembered more for wooden teeth, possessing slaves, and supposedly chopping down a cherry tree.  Although he had more talent, resolve, determination, honor, dedication, and leadership than most of the rest of his successors put together, his birthday is lumped in with that of the incompetents, scandal ridden, and impeached.

This dishonor should no longer be tolerated.  This is why Washington holds a prominent position in Patriot Week.  With my daughter Leah, I have been leading an effort to renew America’s spirit by celebrating Patriot Week from September 11-17 (the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution).  Michigan kicked off the inaugural Patriot Week in 2009 — and it has been growing in Michigan and across the country since.  This grassroots effort is celebrated by schools, colleges, rotaries, Daughters of the American Revolution, senior centers, senior living centers, libraries, and governments.

A large part of Patriot Week is to commemorate key Founding Fathers and other great Patriots that made our founding First Principles come alive in America.  We celebrate Washington, and emphasize his role in creating the Social Compact that has become America.

In his First Inaugural Address, Washington explained that “the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered, perhaps, as deeply, as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”

As the heirs of that experiment, we must maintain that sacred fire of liberty.  By drawing upon Washington we can keep that fire illuminated.  We ignore him at great risk to our survival as a free people.

Lets show the world we are up to the challenge of freedom by vigorously celebrating Washington’s Birthday and Patriot Week.  Join us.

Very truly yours,

Hon. Michael Warren

Learn more about Patriot Week at patriotweek.org

Happy Thanksgiving

 We celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday each November. 

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Conservapedia

 Conservapedia has a great summary of our holiday, its history and traditions, and some beautiful artwork.

It includes linked references, and links to Proclamations by Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

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Wallbuilders has an extensive catalog of historical documents and writings available to view. 

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Today, President Obama

addressed the United Nations Assembly.

In President Obama’s speech, he praised the many regime changes that occurred over the past year, citing how change does not necessarily need to come by violence.  Specifically, the portion of text from his speech to the U.N. Assembly was…

“So this has been a remarkable year. The Qaddafi regime is over. Gbagbo, Ben Ali, Mubarak are no longer in power. Osama bin Laden is gone, and the idea that change could only come through violence has been buried with him. Something is happening in our world. The way things have been is not the way that they will be. The humiliating grip of corruption and tyranny is being pried open. Dictators are on notice.”

Here again, is the same text,

parsed with snippets of news reports of the day.

“So this has been a remarkable year. (The unemployment rate in the United States was last reported at 9.1)

The Qaddafi regime is over.(Libyan rebels on Monday said they had sent more fighters and weaponry to Tripoli…)

Gbagbo, (Toure says no U.N. troops were involved in Mr. Gbagbo’s capture which he says was carried out by fighters…)

Ben Ali, (The departure came as a dramatic climax to weeks of violent protests against Ben Ali’s rule in the north African nation…)

Mubarak (It was a moment they had anticipated throughout long days of relentless demonstrations — sometimes violent — that demanded Mubarak’s departure….)

are no longer in power (Rockets pound ghost city as allies say Gaddafi must go…)

Osama bin Laden is gone, (The president called the killing of bin Laden the “most significant achievement to date”…)

and the idea that change could only come through violence has been buried with him.

Something is happening in our world. (The crowd I saw and spoke with were well informed, and deeply concerned Americans about the direction their country was headed. They were polite, courteous and above all–patriotic.)

The way things have been is not the way that they will be. (“We’ve come to take our government back,” Paul declared to a cheering throng.)

The humiliating grip of corruption and tyranny is being pried open. (A federal jury found former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich guilty of 17 of the 20 counts…)

Dictators are on notice. (President Barack Obama is rapidly advancing an executive dictatorship)

The only question that remains is,

“Who will write the history”?

For the second year in a row, RATP will participate in the Michigan Peach Festival of Romeo.

For a complete list of activities and attractions, visit the Festival’s web site here.

Look for our awesome float entry in the Children’s Parade, which starts at 10am.

Rain or shine, patriots young and old enjoy being part of the Romeo tradition.

The theme this year is “Candy,” and RATP likes to hand out red, white & blue candy.

First place

The Floral Parade travels south on Main Street and begins at 1:30PM.

Our award winning float (last year RATP won 1st Place in the non-commercial category!) features an 8 foot tall Constitution, a large Liberty Bell, costumed historical characters, and is pulled by a handsome tractor. Thanks to the many volunteers who donated time and materials, designed, and assembled the float.

Check here for the video from the 2010 float entry effort.

Also, we have an informational booth, right on Main Street, just south of the Citgo Station, near 332 S Main St.

If you are interested in manning our booth, call Jan @ (586) 752-7524, or Darlene @ (586) 530-2292.

Unless otherwise attributed, the information below has been summarized from the George Washington entry on the White House web site.

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Born in 1732, George Washington became our first President in 1788, after being unanimously elected by the Electoral College.  

During my school days, portraits of President Washington, along with President Lincoln, were a common sight in classrooms. We also celebrated his actual birthday – February 22. 

For a great explanation why Washington deserves to be singularly honored on this holiday – incorrectly termed Presidents’ Day - read Julia Shaw’s Celebrate Washington’s Birthday, published at The Foundry by The Heritage Foundation.

George helped shape the character of our country and our government, earning the title of  Founding Father. G

George Washington

Initially serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses, Washington was elected Commander In Chief after the colonies grew to resist the tyranny of British rule. 

He led the Continental Army through a brutal six year war that ended in England’s defeat.

General Washington won the admiration and devotion of the men he led.  During much of the fighting, his quarters in the field were no better than his fighting men. 

In her piece Why George Washington Let the Army Starve: Necessity Meets Democracy at Valley Forge, Sharon Ann Holt writes how the General resists abusing his military power to provide for the troops. 

 But it is a remarkable fact of American history that Washington turned away from the temptation to overpower or maneuver around the weakness of American civilian government.  He resisted so scrupulously, in fact, that thousands of his men starved or froze to death that second winter of the war.  While their suffering and loyalty is justly recognized as the great legacy of Valley Forge to the nation, it is only part of the story.  The other part is in Washington’s choices.

Read more about Washington’s choices at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

General Washington’s bravery and humility are portrayed in famous paintings.

Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention, culminating in the signing of the Constitution of the United States, also immortalized in art.

The new Constitution created a new executive office, President of the United States, which Washington filled for two terms. 

Quotes attributed to him:

The power under the constitution will always be in the people.  It is intrusted for certain defined purposes, and for a certain limited period, to representatives of their own choosing; and, whenever it is executed contrary to their interest, or not agreeable to their wishes, their servants can and undoubtably will be recalled.

It will at least be a recommendation to the proposed constitution that it is provided with more checks and barriers against the introduction of tyranny, and those of a nature less liable to be surmounted, than any government hitherto instituted among mortals hath possessed.

Words about him, given as part of a eulogy:

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. . . . Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues. . . . Such was the man for whom our nation mourns.