How did George Washington way back then, 200+ years ago know that we were going to get to this point? I was going through my binders trying to find one I could recycle and came across my study pages from the Hillsdale College, Constitution 101. In the expected reading material for Lecture 5, “To Secure These Rights”, was the Farewell Address by George Washington. Page 141 starting at paragraph 25, I read the following:

 

“The Unity of Government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main Pillar in the Edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home; your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very Liberty which you so highly prize.

 

But as it is easy to foresee, that from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively, (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the Palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation in jealous anxiety; discountenancing parity; whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our Country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.

 

For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to You, in your national capacity, must always exalt in the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discrimination. With slight shades of difference, you have the same Religion, Manners, Habits and political Principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together. The independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint councils, and joint efforts; of common dangers, sufferings and successes.”

 

He was so right! Almost prophetic. This America, this country of people that call themselves Americans, have something so unique, so special and yes its bonds are sacred, that to not have pride of Patriotism is of a grave injustice to each and every one of us. This man who led our first army into war for our life, liberty and freedom, did so at much cost to himself, his family and his fellow soldiers. A man who was highly esteemed by all who knew him, was made the first President of the United States of America, and was deeply coerced by his peers to serve two terms, says it more eloquently than any scholar could say.  I am awed by his ability to see into the hearts and minds of men, and to know,  that what we do not cherish daily, we will lose.

 

These people were so inspired, and driven with determination to make this happen, to manifest this great country of ours, that they were touched by the divine to see the light clearly in the dark and the dead of the night and in the death of winter. He persevered and prospered, living his life with passion and a reason to give him direction. He had the foresight of what his calling was, what he needed to do, and how he was going to do it, and shared that inspiration with our ancestors and with us.

 

I salute you George Washington. Thank you for leading the people to create the greatest country ever conceived on this planet.

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