President Washington – Part I

President Washington – Part I

April 6, 2018

Dear President Washington,

There is no better way to begin this blog than with a letter to our first president and the one that many consider the “Father of Our Country.” It was a few months back while my wife and I were visiting a new museum in Philadelphia, The Museum of the American Revolution, a museum dedicated to all your efforts and those of the other founders and patriots. By the way, I also know for sure that you would not recognize Philadelphia. The building on Chestnut Street where you and the other founders did your best work is now a much-visited site. Anyway, I digress. While visiting the museum, there was a quote from your farewell address to your officers and troops at the end of the war which made me think of our situation today.

“Who, that was not a witness, could imagine that the most violent local prejudices would cease so soon, and that Men who came from the different parts of the Continent, strongly disposed, by the habits of education, to despise and quarrel with each other, would instantly become but one patriotic band of Brothers, or who, that was not on the spot, can trace the steps by which such a wonderful revolution has been effected, and such a glorious period put to all our warlike toils”?

On this front nothing seems to have really changed. The big difference is that we now have many more regional parts and more points of view. It seems that during trying times we still come together. In the past year we have experienced a number of natural disasters and we all seemed to come together to assist and aid one another. When we have national tragedies such as terrorist attacks and mass shootings, we come together very briefly but almost immediately afterwards slip into despising and quarrelling with each other. This usually leads to nothing being accomplished.  What upsets me is why is it only during tough times? We cannot seem to come together on issues which should bind us all because they are for our benefit. Maybe this is probably attributed to the fact that the continent is much larger than the one you would remember and the diversity of the citizenry. But then again if I recall there were times that the Band of Brothers had their differences, Mr. Burr and Mr. Hamilton come to mind. So I guess it really is the same.

As you and the founders made so clear the American Revolution was not just a war, it was a concept and belief that did not end when the battles did but continues today. Maybe we all need to realize, that like that Band of Brothers during that part of the Revolution, we are all in this together and tough decisions need to be made. To accomplish this, all our disputes and quarrels need to be put aside so we can all focus on a sense of common needs and purposes like the one which bound those original patriots.  That spirit and common purpose can lead to those diverse factions to become one and can again lead us to that glorious period, without warlike toils, which is the continuing American Revolution.

I am sure Mr. President that your words can serve as an inspiration to us all and that if we could learn from them we all would be better served.

Thank you for you time Mr. President and please feel free to pass this along to the others. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Andrew J.  DeMarco