Rising Sun

 

President James Madison & Mr. Benjamin Franklin

 

May 14, 2018

Dear President Madison and Mr. Benjamin Franklin:

During the Constitutional Convention, President Washington sat in a chair with the sun etched behind his back. On September 17, 1787, the Constitution was signed by forty-two remaining delegates to the convention in their last meeting. President Madison you reported at the conclusion of the convention that you overheard Mr. Franklin saying.

“I have often looked at that behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now I… know that it is a rising…sun.”

This young country was about to set out on an adventure that the world had never seen or known, and the two of you figured prominently. President Madison, I am not sure you know, but you are considered the Father of the Constitution. Mr. Franklin, it is now widely known that your willingness to compromise and persuade others was a big factor in getting the Constitution completed. At that moment, I would have to agree with you Mr. Franklin it was indeed a rising sun.

Today I would have to say that over the 200 plus years that this country has been around, it has been both a rising and setting sun. You see we as a country have been through a lot, some good some bad, some bright shining moments and some dark ones. We have been through a Civil War, which nearly tore us apart and in some ways still rips at us today. We went through not one but two World Wars, terrorist attacks and several decades filled with political assassinations and social unrest. These times one might say that the sun was setting on us. But we weathered all the storms and came through.

On the bright side, since the founding of this great country, it has grown in size and stature. We have become a leader in an ever-changing world. We are a leader in innovation, we have put a number of men on the moon, continue many advances in medicine and have also become a leader in technology. Technology is something I am sure that you Mr. Franklin would find fascinating.

Right now, many believe that it is a setting sun. This is mainly due to the fact that we have a huge partisan divide and a government that seems to constantly be at war with itself. Maybe today’s politicians should take a lesson from you Mr. Franklin and learn how to compromise and persuade which would then enable our leaders to get things done.  In addition, we live in a world were there seems to be a threat to peace just around every corner.

Call me an optimist but I prefer to look at history and know that even though we have gone through tough times the sun will always be rising on this country. The system that you two gentlemen helped establish would allow for nothing else. It is up to us to continue on this course which you set.

I am sure that you both feel the same way and I hope to hear from you soon.

 

Sincerely,

Andrew J. DeMarco