In August the City Council goes into hibernation. A few weeks without constant meetings allows Council members to go on vacation or work around the house. Something we have precious little time to do the rest of the year. One of my favorite things to do in years past was to visit Skyline Drive. I love to hike and hang out up there. It is cooler, less humid and the views are amazing. In the evenings I like to read or hang out by the fire. I do not, any longer, actually camp in a tent. I’m done with the whole sleeping on the ground thing.
A couple of weeks ago I was at Border’s and I picked up a little book entitled “George Washington’s Rules of Good Behavior”. I thought it looked interesting so I took it up to the mountains to read. The “Rules” were interesting but in the back was a copy of his “Farewell Speech” that he gave at the conclusion of his second Presidential term. The speech was far more interesting than the rules. What I remembered most about the speech from school was that the United States should “avoid entangling alliances”. In re-reading the speech, it is nearly a crime to limit the purview of the document to simple alliances. Even in 1796, it was clear to Washington that his fledgeling country faced significant challenges in the near future: regional alliances pitting groups of states against each other, abuse of public credit and political parties that hold their own interests above those of the state.
In short, the man was smart and very practical. Here’s a copy that you can read. Let me know what you think.
August 27, 2007 at 11:50 am
“First in war, first in peace, first in the heart of his countrymen”
And to think – perhaps his greatest gift to our Nation was his
decision to decline another presidential term and then go home to
Mount Vernon – his last great deed as the “Indispensable Man”
was to declare himself dispensible – not to be a King, as many
wished, but a Citizen.
Three cheers for Washington – long live the Republic.