July 2nd 2009
A Perfect 4th Of July Read
W
hat better way to get ready for the 4th of July than to pull up a chair in George Washington’s study and have a friendly conversation about his feelings about the Revolutionary War, the Congress and man’s quest for liberty? Wouldn’t that be grand?
Well, pull up that chair. History News Network is highlighting an article by Thomas Fleming, Channeling George Washington: The Glorious Fourth! that puts you in his study for a Q&A in which he uses sentences considerably shorter and fresher than those Geo. wrote in his letters. I’ll entice you with the lead-in paragraphs and the closing ones.
The good general has just explained how he and Continental Congress secretary Charles Thompson had decided in their old age not to write their memoirs.
“Why not, General? There isn’t an historian I know who wouldn’t give an arm and maybe a leg to read them.”
“We both agreed that if either of us committed such an act of folly – and told the truth about how close we came to losing the war - it would disillusion every man and woman in the country.”
“Does that mean you don’t have an answer for how we won?”
”I told Charlie Thomson there was only one explanation – Divine Providence. Charlie was a hotheaded Irishman in his youth – for a while he was known as the Sam Adams of Philadelphia. But he was older and a lot wiser when we talked. He replied: “That’s the only answer.”
“Does Ben Franklin agree with that answer?”
“Absolutely. Do you know that by 1781, Franklin was so disgusted and discouraged with the way things were going, he resigned as ambassador to France? Congress persuaded him to change his mind, thank God.”
If you’ve read any history of the American Revolution, it’s hard not to see God’s hand in the war, from the fog bank that rolled in at the opportune time or the cloud that covered the moon, to the strength our generals and soldiers drew from their faith. So remember to make a part of your 4th of July celebration a prayer of thanksgiving.
Now to the close:
“Does the American Revolution still matter, General?”
“It will always matter. Within a century of our victory, no less than 200 similar declarations of independence were published around the world. I like to think there are invisible American Revolutions happening today in Iran, in Russia, in China, in Venezuela. Wherever men and women realize they’re being deprived of freedom, America’s example stirs resistance in their souls.”
It is a fundamental purpose of America to be the shining light of freedom in a still-dark world. Our current president does not seem to grasp the overriding importance of that purpose, but fortunately he will not outlast the strength of our Constitution and the power of this nation’s spirit and will. At least I don’t think he will. I have great faith in America … and great awareness that if Gen. Washington were here today, he would find much to his displeasure eminating from Washington DC and spreading throughout the land.
