George Washingtons farewell address

[darkfiretime1]

I find George Washington's farewell address to be a very influential document. Here are a few notable concerns in his farwell address:

"In contemplating the causes, which may disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western: whence designing men may endeavor to excie a belief that there is a difference of local interests and views. One of the expedients of party to aquire influence within particular districts is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts. You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jealousies and heartburnings which spring from these misrepresentations; they tend to render alien to each other who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection."

"I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of the party in general."

"That spirit, unfortunately, is inseperatble from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed: but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatness, and is truly their worst enemy."

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated to most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the inds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

Looking back and light research can tell you easily that George Washington was not a supporter of parties. He was not a member of any party, despite created fiction by some school text books I have read. Enough on parties. Lets take a look on some of his other views.

"Observe good faith and justice towards all nations: cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great Nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can doubt, that, in the course of time and things, the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages, which might be lost by a steady adherence to it ? Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its Virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices ?"

"Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?"

"Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities."

Basically what he warned against in his whole speech:

***Extolls the benefits of the federal government. "The unity of government...is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence...of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize."

***Warns against the party system. "It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration....agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one....against another....it opens the door to foreign influence and corruption...thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another."

***Stresses the importance of religion and morality. "Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice?"

***On stable public credit. "...cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible...avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt....it is essential that you...bear in mind, that towards the payments of debts there must be Revenue, that to have Revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised, which are not...inconvenient and unpleasant..."

***Warns against permanent foreign alliances. "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world..."

***On an over-powerful military establishment. "...avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty."

Here is a website with the whole speech:
http://earlyamerica...s/farewell/text.html

What I find the sadest part is that public school systems generally dont even make you read a single part of it, when in fact it is an important speech. Its a warning about what is happening in our country right now, if you can see it inbetween the words.

We have clearly ignored George Washington, and look where we are today.

[Joodah]

yes, just look where we are today.
we are the richest nation in the world.
we have the highest standard of living.
we have the most prevalent culture.
we have the highest income "poor" class in the world.

in short, washington was wrong. sectionalism allows for healthy competition, which makes changes for the better in society.

[PharaohRamsesII]

Alias: darkfiretime1
Web: none
AIM: none

Age: 16
Gender: Male
Habitat: Cali
Job: architecture

[PharaohRamsesII]

Alias: mofomojo
Web: none
AIM: mofomojo2004

Age: 15
Gender: Male
Habitat: LaSalle, ON
Job: Seat Warmer

Thanks, But your input is also insignificant.

[Papa-Smuff]

At 2/26/06 12:36 AM, PharaohRamsesII wrote: Alias: mofomojo
Web: none
AIM: mofomojo2004

Age: 15
Gender: Male
Habitat: LaSalle, ON
Job: Seat Warmer

Thanks, But your input is also insignificant.

Alias: PharaohRamsesII
Web: none
AIM: none
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Habitat: unspecified
Job: unspecified

Why should their, or my, input be insignificant if you arent much older then them? Or does turning 19 suddenly make your opinion significant.

[Papa-Smuff]

At 2/26/06 01:09 AM, Papa_Smuff wrote:

does turning 19 suddenly make your opinion significant.

sorry I meant 18.

[Elfer]

At 2/26/06 12:36 AM, PharaohRamsesII wrote: Alias: mofomojo
Web: none
AIM: mofomojo2004

Age: 15
Gender: Male
Habitat: LaSalle, ON
Job: Seat Warmer

Thanks, But your input is also insignificant.

Your input is ad hominem, aka the genetic fallacy, and is therefore retarded.

[darkfiretime1]

Yes, somehow George Washington must be wrong. Every day, we continue to allow illegal aliens into our country and our government doesnt do shit.

Every day, we are at threat because of our intervention in foreign affairs.

Every day, more of our freedoms are being taken away.

We have the largest debt in the world.

Were a nation of whores.

[fahrenheit]

At 2/26/06 02:45 AM, darkfiretime1 wrote: Yes, somehow George Washington must be wrong. Every day, we continue to allow illegal aliens into our country and our government doesnt do shit.

Do you not read the papers ,or watch the news, or talk to people? The government gives a lot of shit about illegal aliens.

Every day, we are at threat because of our intervention in foreign affairs.

And every day we used to be subject to critisizm for having the power of the world and not using it.

Every day, more of our freedoms are being taken away.

We never had freedoms.
Sure, we could say what we want in the paper or at someone.
But we were never truly free.

Black people couldnt vote, women couldnt get jobs, indians lived on reservations, people from the middle east were siezed before they could get on airplanes, people glare at you if you say something racist, people get denied jobs because they arent a certain race.

We never had freedoms, we had privledges.

We have the largest debt in the world.

We have the largest amount of nukes in the world.

Were a nation of whores.

We are a race of whores.

[darkfiretime1]

If the United States gave a two time shit about illegal aliens, they would not continue to debate about amnesty laws, guest worker programs, and all the other bullshit that comes along with it.

Since when have politicians given that much thought to america? More and more taxes are created, and yes, you say we have all these nukes, oh wow what alot of good those will do. Maybe we should just sell them, or we could have a big barn party. Better yet, lets sell them on ebay.

So now we were never truly free? Yep, thats a legitimate reason to allow government to continue running its course... Did i say we were a totally free nation? State where i said those words. Did i say we didnt have slaves, indians never had reservations, were all a racist free country, that muslims werent seized? No, i did not.

Fact is, with government, you cant be totally free. But you cannot allow the government to also go on a rampage. Its pure stupidity.

[Bolo]

We should have heeded George's warnings on political parties. I mean, look at our country: we're polarized over every issue, no matter how small. Unified nationalistic spirit has been all but abandoned by our country for 150 years. Barely anything is accomplished of significance unless the two major political parties agree on an issue. I belive that with such division, America is as weak and weathered as it has ever been. If we let the germ of division permeate our culture for too long, we will not survive.

[fahrenheit]

At 2/26/06 03:24 AM, darkfiretime1 wrote: If the United States gave a two time shit about illegal aliens, they would not continue to debate about amnesty laws, guest worker programs, and all the other bullshit that comes along with it.

If the government didnt give a shit about illegal aliens they wouldnt have patrols set up on the border. And they especially wouldnt ship out aliens back to their home country.

Since when have politicians given that much thought to america?

The country was founded on politicians. All of the laws, government, and order we have are because politicians.

More and more taxes are created, and yes, you say we have all these nukes, oh wow what alot of good those will do. Maybe we should just sell them, or we could have a big barn party. Better yet, lets sell them on ebay.

Or sell them to third world countries, then take them back claiming they are going to use it for bad purposes.

So now we were never truly free? Yep, thats a legitimate reason to allow government to continue running its course...

If we were truly free we would in anarchy.

Did i say we were a totally free nation? State where i said those words.

You said our freedoms are taken away. That would mean we initially had freedoms.

Did i say we didnt have slaves, indians never had reservations, were all a racist free country, that muslims werent seized? No, i did not.

You said we had freedoms, as if back in 1943 everyone and their cousin could whatever they wanted.

Fact is, with government, you cant be totally free. But you cannot allow the government to also go on a rampage. Its pure stupidity.

What is more important? Freedom, or laws.
Revenge, or justice?
Hunt or collect?
Steal or buy?

The thing is, a government may become corrupt but a society without a government is by a far a much worse, and deadlier thing.

[PharaohRamsesII]

At 2/26/06 01:10 AM, Papa_Smuff wrote:

At 2/26/06 01:09 AM, Papa_Smuff wrote:

does turning 19 suddenly make your opinion significant.

sorry I meant 18.

Alias: Papa_Smuff
Web: none
AIM: none

Age: 17
Gender: Male
Habitat: Palmdale, CA
Job: Student

You know what to do.