"For
this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens, by
birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to
concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you
in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of
patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.
With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners,
habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought
and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess are
the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers,
sufferings, and successes."
-
President George Washington (1732-1799),
Farewell Address (1796).
2 comments:
We ought to figure out some way to incentivize the job of past-president, such that we only get wisdom from them. GW also reminds us that our legislative people owe something to all of us and not solely to those that elect them. Or is that too hopeful?
Great insight! Washington's point is that we need to think of the country first, and our own regional and ideological interests after that -- that we are one united people, united both by our affiliations and also by the common struggle for liberty that is at the heart of our republic. Great stuff.
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