Geo. Washington

[kanling]

Birthday is on Wednesday. Here was a guy that took a bunch of country farmers and managed to defeat the greatest army in the world. He was so popular he was easily elected the first president. He was so popular he could have been president indefinitely and morphed into a dictator. Instead, he volutarily stepped down to return to his farm. Has any other leader in world history, not subject to term limits or restrictions, voluntarily stepped down?

George Washington may be the greatest man who ever lived.

For that, he gets to share a holiday with another man (I don't mean to diminish Lincoln)... and a "minor" holiday at that.

 

[Not the Autorx Frank]

He could have been king....

Lock it up guys !!!!!

 

[kanling]

I guess I hadn't really thought this was political. But, yeah, I guess it could be interpreted as such by implying that Washington's holiday is second-rate.

Really my intention was to remind people that President's day is today. And that I think Washington was a pretty great guy.

I hope everyone who gets the day off today enjoys it.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

George Washington was a statesman. He was born on the 22nd of February. We used to recognize these things.

 

[Pablo]

Martha too.

 

[Al]

I finished the book "Washington's Crossing" There is no way in a million years that the Revolution should have suceeded-not at that time anyway. The man was truly remarkable.

 

[savvy]

quote:

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Most of the time.

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Thank you for clearing that up for me. : )

Vetteman:

Thanks for the link, plenty of issues to consider.

And lastly George Washington. Yes, the father of our country. Didn't he own fishing boats that sent most of the catch back to England in salted barrels ?! Oh, btw this is not politics.? : )

ps. I can't seem to get any Graemlins to work. When I drag one into the message box, I get a ' void '

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

On the site you just need to click the greaemlins.

More like history than politics. At least I think so.

 

[savvy]

Groucho.......

Your the man.

 

[savvy]

It's too bad there isn't a forum here for Religion and Politics. Are we children who cannot be trusted to discuss issues rationally ?!

 

[wavinwayne]

Most of the time.

 

[Bio-T]

This forum should meet the needs for R/S/P


R/S/P and BITOG Bashing Forum

 

[mechtech]

In a non political, non religious way, I agree that any in depth view of George Washington's life will show remarkable qualities: character, wisdom, and achievments.

 

[oilyriser]

Ben Franklin's autobiograpy is available for free here:

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/148

The writings of these people are in the public domain now, so you should be able to download copies from on the web, or on p2p networks. All the ideas they felt important enough to put to paper are available for all to see.

 

[amazine]

Bigger than life leader,who was the right man at the right time for the beginning of our country.

Also, if you love your history and get a chance, read "1776". Fantastic read!

 

[outrun]

"Also, if you love your history and get a chance, read "1776". Fantastic read!"

That author is absolutely amazing. Did you hear his story telling on CSPAN at the Texas book festival?

The founding fathers were geniuses. Look at the US Constitution soo short but so simple and effective.

Washington single greatness was his humbleness despite the fact he was the wealthiest American of his time. It is venerable how he so readily relinquished his command of the Continental Army to Congress when hostilities ended. History is mired in Generals who played and seized politics from civil control.

On the other hand look at the European Union Constitution......a huge heavy binder. The United States got by with our simple document just fine

The fact that these men 200+ years ago wrote a document so ahead that withstood modernity raising the republic to such greatness is amazing.

Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams the way they are taught in school is DRY. These guys were true visionaries the likes of which are seldom seen. If you read into them on your own there stories are amazing.

The History Channel has wonderful stuff

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Yeah, today was G.W.'s birthday, at least it used to be.

 

[moribundman]

quote:

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he [Washington] volutarily stepped down to return to his farm

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What was he growing?

 

[mechtech]

G.W. was the #1 producer of Rye Whiskey in the U.S.A..

 

[moribundman]

And he grew hemp. Back then its recreational use hadn't been discovered yet and hemp was an awesome material with an array of uses. Ironically, hemp is fire retardent.