Washington proclaimed  “No Kings”  however his actions were guided by civility

https://blogs.loc.gov/manuscripts/2022/12/george-washington-the-greatest-man-in-the-world

Our first President George Washington is remarkable for a number of reasons but perhaps most notable was that he had the moral courage and to walk away from the executive power he surely could have maneuvered to keep. Washington executed  a peaceful transfer of power and was almost unheard of when Kings and Monarchies did all they could to remain in control and pass it on to succeeding generations. King George III is reputed to have said that George Washington should be considered “the greatest man in the world” for relinquishing the power that others would have fought to retain. As perhaps America’s most notable Founder his moral compass was fixated on God and greater good of our fledgling Republic vice aggrandizement that could have been realized if he declared himself a King.

This set a precedent that has since served has a been a model for the free world. There were many more things he practiced that shaped our early national character and practices. He refused to wear his military uniform as President. He  eschewed titles, instead preferring to be called “Mr. Washington.” He reminded people they were not to bow before him, that they were his peers and that they had a right to impeach him if he violated his oath of office. In other words by his actions he demonstrated from its inception that America would not  have Kings but rather Chief Executives that are elected by and serve the people. 

https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/rules-of-civility

In addition to his selflessness Washington was indeed civil, having written at the tender age of fourteen his one hundred and ten rules which included “guidelines for behavior in pleasant company, appropriate actions in formal situations, and general courtesies.” This is remarkable in that Washington never received a formal education but only tutoring and mentorship by Lord Fairfax. Unfortunately in an effort to be “relevant” the Community College that once bore his name opted to change it in the wake of the George Floyd protests and relegate him to the dustbin of history.

Well fast forward some two hundred and fifty years and it appears again the manta of “No Kings” seems to be the latest catch phrase by on the left side of the aisle who gather on a regular basis along our highways proclaiming their “patriotism” and protesting the current Administration’s Chief Executive who they claim who is attempting to be a “King” and exercise unchecked power in spite of the fact his actions are kept in check by both the Legislative and Judicial Branches of our Federal Government. 

What I find most concerning is that the current crop of “No Kings” protestors most of whom are like me – proverbial “cotton ball” Boomers with white hair who proudly display “8647” placards, and we all know the true meaning of that number combination, as if they are throw backs in a 1971 “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” commercial. 

Of course the last time our Chief Executive was accused of being a “King” (Don Henley’s the End Innocence “They’re beating plowshares into swords for this tired old man that we elected king”) it was Ronald Reagan who last time I checked was not a “King” but rather brought an end to one of the most oppressive regimes in modern history – the Soviet Union.

So yes, to no Kings, but as our Washington reminds us – civility and not cryptic or veiled messages of hate should prevail.