It is said that upon hearing that Washington had given up power at the end of his second term to go back home, King George remarked that if that were the case he would be the greatest man in the world.
I wonder if he felt like the greatest man in the world. Washington’s mind was probably addled with the threats he threw at the backs of his riflemen - guaranteeing their death if they didn’t stand and fight the Goliath in front of them. I wonder if every bullet that had whizzed past his ear had seemed as charming as the ones that brought him fame. I wonder, what he thought as he lived amongst the slaves at his estate - slaves he felt pressure to free but would only feel able to release upon his death. Did he feel like the greatest man in the world? Teeth rotting from another human in his head.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria…
My mind shifts to the end of Schindlers List. When Schindler is inconsolable, questioning his nazi pin fixed upon his chest which if he had sold may have made a difference when it mattered. Did he feel like someone worth making a movie about?
I always liked the saying “2 cheers for democracy”, the joke being that no-one could quite muster the last cheer.
But maybe then again, it was coming. Maybe with time people could find the energy to redeem us.
On this greatest day of the American tradition, we celebrate what we have in common - love. We accept each other as we are and we believe in the future. On this day we remember what is worth fighting for.
“Its coming up, like a flower”
We all can’t help but carry a new world in our hearts. It is our nature to dream. Cheers to the dreamers, those who come from far and wide to the land of opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
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