A speech by one of our students in QUEST II, Cado R.
You’re cold. Freezing cold. Your body aches, down to your bones. You’re exhausted from continuous days of hard fighting. You haven’t had enough to eat in months. Your uniform is tattered and dirty, yet you march along. You think of your friends, your brothers in arms, yet you can’t remember who’s dead and who’s alive. You know that you’ve lost thousands to the cold and ice alone. You’re starting to realize you may soon join those men, buried in thin layers of dirt and snow. For a second, you can’t seem to remember what exactly you are fighting for. And then you look up. Far ahead of you, past lines of exhausted men, you see him. General George Washington, riding his white horse, head held high, shouting encouragement and looking far off, deep in thought. He seems attentive, yet distant. And then you remember. You remember why you’re fighting every day. You remember why thousands have died. You are fighting for freedom. For liberty against tyranny. You are fighting for the future.
George Washington could have easily stayed in power if he wanted to, yet he didn’t. He didn’t just give up power once, but twice. He gave up his supreme military authority in 1783 and then again when he gave up his presidential authority in 1796. Why? This man was described as a “giant among men” and “the indispensable man”. Why would he, someone revered by everyone, resign from his positions? Was it because he was tired? No. It was because of his wisdom.
He knew that the American people needed to let go. He knew that to prevent what would essentially become a monarchy and to prevent tyranny, the people would need to learn how to let go and elect new leaders. He understood that in order for the new Constitution to fulfill its duty, and for democracy to root itself in America’s future, he would have to set a standard for all future presidents to follow.
A quote from him perfectly encapsulates this idea:
“Experience teaches us that it is much easier to prevent an enemy from posting themselves than it is to dislodge them after they have got possession”
George Washington always looked to the future, to the greater good. He carefully calculated his actions to ensure the well-being and maintenance of democracy and freedom. Washington was a man who knew what needed to be done.
That is the wisdom of the first president of the United States, George Washington.
No responses yet