I've been reading a little book called Wit and Wisdom of the American Presidents. It's a collection of quotations and George Washington's are filled with solid advice that the current occupant of the White House would do well to follow. Of course we all know that we've never had anyone half as smart as Barack Obama sitting in the oval office. (Washington, of course, never sat there because it didn't exist.) Liberals never cease to inform us of Obama's absolute, unmatched brilliance, like presidential historian Michael Beschloss who claimed on Imus in the Morning (11/12/08) that "Barack Obama has the highest IQ of any President." Imus asked, "What's his IQ?" and Beschloss answered, "I don't know." So much for the research acumen of the "historian." As for the I.Q. test, it's only been around since the early 20th century. Last I checked we've had presidents since the end of the 18th. But actions speak louder than I.Q.s anyway.Frankly, I care more about a man's M.Q., his moral quotient. Obama's actions so far, indicate his M.Q. is down in the basement: advancing sodomy, promoting murder of children, cannibalizing embryos, demonizing pro-lifers, claiming to be doing one thing while doing its opposite, etc. Compared to George Washington, Obama is an M.Q. idiot.
Here are a few words of wisdom from the General with my comments:
"Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience."
Will Obama and the liberals in Congress destroy the conscience rights of doctors and other health care professionals?
"I hate deception, even where the imagination only is concerned."
Liberalism is grounded in deception.
"Few men have virtue enough to withstand the highest bidder."
Where did Obama's campaign millions come from?
"To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones."
The "stimulus" package saddles our children and grandchildren with massive, unpayable debt. The entire wealth of the country cannot pay off what we currently owe and it is thanks to big government politicians, both Republican and Democrat. Obama, however, is raising the bar of deficit spending to heights we've never seen before in our history.
"Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by individuals."
This is a totally alien concept to liberals who turn to the courts to legislate every time they fail to get what they want through legislation. Roe v. Wade is the classic example. Look for the ultimate overturning of Proposition 8 in California and the creation of same-sex marriage everywhere by court fiat.
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet an enemy."
In other words, have a strong army, but endeavor never to use it, another concept alien to liberals who generally "loathe the military." Traditionally throughout our history the military has been about 30% Catholic. Love of God and country are Catholic virtues.
"The tumultuous populace of large cities are ever to be dreaded."
"Flee the cities!" as Matthew 24 advises.
And finally, "Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light."
To speak the truth in charity is the duty of every Christian and, in fact, every person of good will. Jesus Himself is truth. Draw nearer to Him and, like Mary, let your soul magnify Him to an unbelieving and evil age. It may, and probably will, earn you hatred and persecution. Do it anyway. It will allow you, like George Washington, who may have converted to Catholicism on his deathbed, to say, "It is well I die hard, but I am not afraid to go."
There is as much evidence to say Washington died a Catholic as to say he died a Jew. None.
ReplyDeleteAn article by Ben Emerson has been making the rounds on the Internet lately. It claims that on his deathbed George Washington called for a Jesuit priest, Fr. Leonard Neale, from St. Mary’s Mission across the Piscataway River. Then Washington, who had supposedly “been an Episcopalian,” was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church. Emerson’s article alleges, but provides no evidence, that “after Washington’s death, a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary and one of St. John were found among the effects on an inventory of articles at his home.”
There is simply no solid evidence for such claims. If an affirmation like this were to appear in any serious scholarly article, it would be called fraudulent and the whole work would lose its credibility.
New Hampshire's Tobias Lear, former secretary to the President, was on the scene during the long slow death of Washington on December 14, 1799 at Mount Vernon. His carefully written account offers a detailed view of Washington's last moments. It is interesting to notice that nowhere does the fanciful fabrication of Ben Emerson enter this description.
Ah, the romance of the idea got the better of me. I thought as I was writing I should qualify the statement, but ignored my better instincts.
ReplyDeleteI have qualified it now and would like to do some further research on the matter. Here is an article that supports you: http://www.traditioninaction.org/search.html On the search page type George Washington in the box and it will come up along with others.
There is quite a difference between IQ and cunning. Obama's principle attribute is his cunning and instinct for playing the Alinsky game, appealing to the self-interest of others which promoting yourself.
ReplyDeleteThis creates the appearance of brilliance, since you get your way an inordinate percentage of the time. But in reality it is the result of being unprincipled and able to take any position because you have no position but what will promote you.
I don't know of any stand that Obama actually took based on something that looks like any other principle than self-interest.
I think there used to be a name for that ... it was "bounder."
Cheers, Ray