Washington's Birthday Blog
by Alex Ayres
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What would Washington say today?
He would call for more Civility and Less Partisanship!
He would call for more Civility and Less Partisanship!
Washington's birthday is February
22nd. A few Americans will pay lip service to Washington, and
some will honor him by attending a Washington's birthday sale and spending dollars with his face on the front. But how many of us will give any real thought to Washington and what he means to us?
some will honor him by attending a Washington's birthday sale and spending dollars with his face on the front. But how many of us will give any real thought to Washington and what he means to us?
Washington is one of those few great Americans.
Like Lincoln, we miss him. Even though
we never
met him, we still miss Washington, especially the qualities of honesty and civility for which his character is
so well-known. We wish we could have the benefit of Washington's strength, his wisdom, his advice now.
met him, we still miss Washington, especially the qualities of honesty and civility for which his character is
so well-known. We wish we could have the benefit of Washington's strength, his wisdom, his advice now.
What would Washington say
today? Most likely he would call for more Civility and nonpartisanship.
He might chastise us a bit – as a good general might chastise his troops sometimes, or a good father might chastise his children – for rudeness, crudeness and profanity.
He might chastise us a bit – as a good general might chastise his troops sometimes, or a good father might chastise his children – for rudeness, crudeness and profanity.
Washington was a physically
imposing man, at 6'2'', tall and stalwart, but he was usually very courteous
and polite, sort of like an American knight. He disliked cursing, profanity,
rudeness and drunkenness, and once scolded a challenger, "Drunkenness is
no excuse for rudeness!"
Washington would be disgusted by
the insulting style of American politics today. He did not believe in
name-calling or insulting the opposition. He wrote: "Every species of
insult I despise."
He did not approve of gloating
when an enemy was defeated or humiliated. One of his Rules of Civility
instructed: "Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another, though
he were your enemy."
Washington believed captured prisoners should be treated humanely, that fair treatment would
undermine the enemy's will to fight:
Washington believed captured prisoners should be treated humanely, that fair treatment would
undermine the enemy's will to fight:
* ** "It is not my wish that
severity should be exercised towards any whom the fortune of war has
thrown, or shall throw into our hands. On the contrary, it is my desire that the utmost humanity should be shown them. I am convinced the latter has been the prevailing line of conduct to prisoners."
More than anything, Washington would deplore all the partisan bickering of today's American political scene. He warned against what he called the "demon of Party Spirit." In his Farewell Address in 1796 he gave his last warning before stepping down from power:
thrown, or shall throw into our hands. On the contrary, it is my desire that the utmost humanity should be shown them. I am convinced the latter has been the prevailing line of conduct to prisoners."
More than anything, Washington would deplore all the partisan bickering of today's American political scene. He warned against what he called the "demon of Party Spirit." In his Farewell Address in 1796 he gave his last warning before stepping down from power:
*** "This spirit,
unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest
passions of
the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments... but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism."
the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments... but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism."
George Washington is a central
figure in American history – neither left-leaning, nor right-leaning, but
balanced and upright – he stands tall at the center of it all, like the
Washington Monument in the nation's capital city skyline.
No one would ever accuse Washington of being weak on defense. He popularized the military maxim
that a good offense is the best defense. He said in his first inaugural, "To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." But some conservatives today might be surprised to learn that Washington espoused many liberal values:
No one would ever accuse Washington of being weak on defense. He popularized the military maxim
that a good offense is the best defense. He said in his first inaugural, "To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." But some conservatives today might be surprised to learn that Washington espoused many liberal values:
*** "I hope ever to see
America among the foremost nations in examples of justice and
liberality."
Nor did he despise compromise.
After presiding over the Constitutional Convention he wrote:
*** "A spirit of
accommodation was the basis of the present Constitution."
One of Washington's greatest
contributions to our national vocabulary is "Mr. President." He was
offered many more illustrious titles. John Adams suggested "Your Most
Benign Highness." But Washington insisted on the more humble address
"Mr. President," setting an important precedent that is still followed
today.
Some of Washington's Rules of
Civility are outdated now; others are timeless. My personal favorite is his
12th rule:
"Bedew no man's face with
your Spittle, by approaching too near him when you
Speak."
If he were here today Washington would probably ask us to stop speaking and acting so uncivilly toward one another. Instead of bedewing one another's faces with the spittle of our contemptuous rhetoric and insults, why don't we try to be a little more civil to each other? Treat everyone, even our opponents -- even those obnoxious idiots who strongly disagree with us – with a minimum of respect?
Be more civil to one another.
That is what Washington would say. That would be a good way to honor George Washington
on his birthday, or any day.
