The Hypocrisy of Washington
When looking at the men who founded this country it is easy to lift them onto a pedestal and perceive them as perfect. The time itself is looked at as purely American; a time when American ideals were lived for the first time, when the ideals were lived perfectly and perhaps lived for the last time. Thomas Jefferson. Benjamin Franklin. Alexander Hamilton. John Adams. George Washington. Those names seem to be synonymous with America, with liberty, and with everything American culture stands for. Thus, seeing America as perfect, as something like the light in a world full of darkness, it is no wonder that Americans see these men as perfection embodied in men. Looking more closely it is found that there were faults in these men. Franklin was an arrogant, self-righteous, and obnoxious man. Hamilton and Adams were the same - pigheaded. Yet, despite the fact that faults can be seen in these men, the higher caste founder, George Washington, is still seen as faultless. He is seen as the person who, seemingly by his mere will alone, made this country; molded thirteen colonies into what is now the most powerful country in the world. It is odd to think that he could have been at fault in some arena of his life. It is strange a
Basically, Madison says that parties are not only inevitable, but entirely necessary. He explains the necessity of the president being Commander in Chief and the requirement that he be able to pardon and make treaties. To remember him as such would be an insult to even him. Little is actually known about his childhood aside from menial details and facts. George Washington specifically warned against this. This in itself could be a defining aspect of his adult life. To properly illustrate the hypocritical nature of this politician it is imperative to lay the groundwork for the political and social thought of the time. What he does not deserve however is the reverence that is put upon his name. Thus, it leaves the necessity to control a party's consequences or effects. They were adamantly in favor of rewriting the constitution and forming a stronger central or Federal power. Why then, did the strongest leader our nation has ever known fear the country that "he" had defeated? It is not known why, but still shows a little bit of, dare I say, cowardice. Now the first option, he argues, is not really an option in terms of the constitution. In order to understand George Washington and his main fault his time period must be thoroughly examined. This case of hypocrisy, although demonstrated most poignantly here, ranged all over his presidency.
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