George Washington once wrote, "It is yet to be decided, whether the revolution must ultimately be decided as a blessing or a curse; a blessing or a curse, not to the present age alone, for with our fate will the destiny of unborn millions be involved."
He later in his farewell address of 1796 says, "I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the state over which you preside, in His holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field, and finally, that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation."
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George Washington portrait by Gilbert Stuart 1797
(courtesy commons.wikimedia.org) |
The first part of his prayer, "to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government," most everyone does a good job of this. This is because most people are peaceful and want to have a nice peaceful private life. The second part of his prayer, "entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field," well this is still being prayed for. This part of the prayer still hasn't been answered yet. The last part of Washington's prayer, "that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind," is, like the first part, doing pretty well. Most prefer peace, and prefer to practice a peaceful life. Most people have a strong affinity for Justice, for loving mercy, and most people are also charitable and humble.
wikipedia.org/Washington
Washington also writes, "The great Searcher of human hearts knows there is no wish in mine, beyond that of living and dying an honest man, on my own farm."
Will Washington's prayer for his country and for all humankind be ever fully answered? Will there be a love for one another, for fellow citizens, with charity, and a pacific temper of mind? And how about other nations? Will they be able to share in the dream that all people want to have, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness? It is yet to be decided.
We do know that Washington was a slave owner, and that he didn't free his slaves until his death. We also know he was the 1st President. And that he was a great leader, a surveyor, an environmentalist, a farmer, and an honest man who cut down his father's cherry tree. We know too that he graces the US one dollar bill. We also know he was Christian and he believed in Christ. Perhaps this is why his Christian friend Thomas Jefferson, used to remark, "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just." Tom, and George, both knew that slavery, could not and would not last, not only because it is morally and ethically wrong, but because it is against God's law. It is said, a nation that forgets it's past, has no future. This is in large part true. However, history does not always repeat itself: in the past there was slavery, in the present and future there is freedom!
Ok, so how does this relate to peace? Well take a look at Washington's prayer again- he says, "dispose us all to do Justice, to love mercy, and to have a pacific temper of mind." Pacific temper of mind, is a cool mind, mindful of peace and prosperity. Peace is the way. Washington's remarks from yesteryear, illustrate the threads of peace as peace has continually woven the fabric of our existence and sustenance. The Art of Peace, as Robert Kennedy calls it, has been going on for quite sometime, and it takes time to build a peaceful existence. As the world winds blow, time elapses to further the invariable path to peace on earth.
demopublican.org is here to promote public awareness of the need for world peace.
