On the face of Mount Rushmore are forever carved in stone the faces of what America considers to be her finest leaders: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Although these leaders embraced different political ideologies and had different visions for the great experiment of American democracy they shared one common characteristic – their ability to unite our Republic.
Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the ragtag Continental Army fought overwhelming odds to defeat the British Army, He later served as our first Chief Executive at a very perilous time in our nation’s history. Washington tolerated opposing views, despite fears that a democratic system would lead to political violence, and he conducted a smooth transition of power. He remained non-partisan throughout his presidency and opposed the divisiveness of political parties.
Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Its preamble has inspired people around the world. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Abraham Lincoln who next to George Washington I view to be America’s greatest President guided the nation through a devastating Civil War and in the spirit of reconciliation granted amnesty to the vanquished, Despite the exhortations of some he did not refer to those who fought against the United States as “”traitors “but rather in the spirit of reconciliation brought them back into the fold. As he noted so eloquently “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
Thedore Roosevelt brought the United States on the International stage of the 20th century through this completion of the Panama Canal and Foreign Policy captured by his exhortation to “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” He transformed the United States into the leader of the free world. As a nation we would rescue the old world in two subsequent world wars.
America is indeed splintered – I cannot remember the time in my lifetime spanning over seventy plus years a time when our nation was so fractured and where once civility prevailed it is no longer. Gone are the days after 9/11 when “United We Stand” was the watchword of the day and all Americans worked together for the common good regardless of political ideology.
I had to chuckle when Speaker Pelosi recently commented that Joe Biden’s face would one day be carved in the granite of Mount Rushmore amongst those great American Presidents who despite their political party strove to unite vs divide Americans. President Biden, who ran on a platform to unite the country, soon after the election openly scorned half of its electorate and now he has retreated from his role as Commander-in-Chief and defaults to his wife to run Cabinet Meetings – incredulous!
As a realist I suspect that the die is now cast, and the outcome of November 5th election may be sealed. My only hope and prayer is that whoever is elected can reach across the aisle to achieve the greatness that was once ours. If not like many great civilizations before us we are doomed to failure.
2 comments
Yes Sir ” I fear that we are truly doomed.”
The communist, read democrat, party has been working 24/7/365 since the late 50s early 60s to undermine and destroy our country. They groomed “educators” and politicians at every level to quietly implement their policies. The school systems were subverted to produce ill educated people willing to bow to their masters. When they stole the 2020 election they felt that they could reveal themselves openly. Like you I am an old man, 78, and I have watched in horror as our once great Republic has been suborned. We had a moment of relief when Trump was in office but it was not to last. I fear that we are truly doomed.