President’s Day Lessons

What is being taught to our children about President’s Day?  Are they being taught about our values and beliefs or is some other agenda being implemented, an agenda intended to marginalize or even destroy the values and beliefs which we hold sacred?  There are facts and then there’s the manner in which facts are presented. 

My grandson came home from the local public school where he’s in the 6^th grade.  His teacher had them watch the National Geographic Society’s YouTube video, The Real George Washington.  Being good grandparents we decided to watch that very same video.

Having watched other National Geographic Society presentations I’ve developed a cautious approach to their presentations; their tendency to put a slant on stories isn’t much different than other major news media outlets.  It’s not so much what is said; rather, how it’s said, what’s omitted or treated with impunity.

After only a few minutes of the video the important biographical facts about George Washington were that he was a power hungry young man who lacked military skills and was extremely lucky to have advanced in rank.  He made terrible tactical decisions but because he was so lucky he survived to fight another day. 

There was no mention of his strong religious beliefs, perhaps later in the video; but we’d already had enough of tearing down a great man all in the name of being ‘strictly honest’.  The video glossed over his exceptional character, years of self discipline which made him a natural leader; instead there were references to a secret cult like group known as the Free Masons who opened doors of opportunity that eventually led to his becoming president. 

If this is an example of what is being foisted off on our youth in the name of national pride; is it any wonder we’ve lost an entire generation, a generation of future citizens who have no idea why America became the greatest nation in the world? 

There were plenty of videos to pick from; my next selection was Glenn Beck’s very short YouTube video, interestingly called, The Real George Washington.  Within a few moments the viewer learns that at the tender age of 16 George Washington had already gained the admiration from hostile Indians, those who’d tried to kill him in battle.  Here’s a printed version of what Glenn Beck referenced:

“I am a chief, and ruler over my tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the great lakes, and to the far blue mountains. I have traveled a long and weary path, that I might see the young warrior (George Washington, from the day he had horses shot out from underneath him) of the Great Battle. … It was on the day when the white man’s blood mixed with the streams of our forest, that I first beheld this chief. I called to my young men and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the red-coat tribe — he hath an Indian’s wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do — himself is alone exposed. … Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies. … Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for him, knew not how to miss – ‘twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we, shielded him from harm. He cannot die in battle. I am old, and soon shall be gathered to the great council fire of my fathers in the land of shades, but ere I go, there is something bids me speak in the voice of prophecy. … Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man, and guides his destinies — he will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire.”
[SOURCE: Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington, by George Washington Parke Custis, Edited by Benson J. Lossing, Vol. 1, page 248].
[FURTHER SOURCE: "The Diary of George Washington, from 1789 to 1791," Edited by Benson J. Lossing, 1860, p. 303. This narrative was told to Mr. Custis by Dr. Craik - George Washington's Life-long Friend who was with him - and witnessed this remarkable scene. It was first published in 1828].

We asked our grand son if anything like this had been discussed during his President’s Day lesson; it had not.  There had been no mention of anything which might touch on a religious or divine connection between the character of our leaders and what it means to be President of the United States of America.

Our children are being indoctrinated to think a certain way; a way that is in direct conflict with the America I love and revere.  They are filled with names, dates and places without understanding why these names, dates and places are important. 

My grandson knew that 800 AD was the date Charlemagne became Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire; but that’s all he knew, an answer to a test question that might show up to see if he read his homework.  I’m afraid most of his classmates went home knowing about George Washington in much the same way, just enough to pass a test at school and nothing about the character and integrity the man displayed throughout his life because our schools are not teaching anything about Christian values and morality.

Speaking of Christian values and morality, have you noticed the statistics regarding the advancement of so called values in our society?  Some 41% of children are born to mothers out of wedlock and 53% believe pre-marital sex is okay.; but that’s no big deal, is it?  There is a pervasive attitude toward moral relativism, that there is no right or wrong and that God either doesn’t exist or He no longer cares about us.

Since it is, after all, President’s Day; I’ll include Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; it’s also his birthday.  He once said, “Our youth are growing up in a world saturated with the sophistries of Satan”, a warning that the fabric of our nation’s morality is under constant attack.

In the news, studies have found children are negatively impacted based on television programs they watch.  Well, “Dah!”, it took multiple research grants to find that out?

“This study followed a group of 1,000 children born in Dunedin, New Zealand between 1972 and 1973. In the ten years when these kids were between 5 and 15 years of age, researchers followed up biennially to measure how much television they watched. By the numbers, those kids who watched more television were more likely to be antisocial and, in some cases, end up with a criminal conviction of some sort.”

Maybe if the Obama administration considered the impact of socially maladjusted individuals, those who’ve been bombarded with violence and a lack of respect for others due to television programs, computer game simulations which depict rape and other abominations all in the name of entertainment or a movie industry which demeans the human condition to such an extent that a few rationally impaired individuals are unable to discern between reality and the delusional world that has over taken their minds; maybe then Obama wouldn’t be demanding Congress solve the ‘gun violence problem’ through infringements on our God given 2^nd Amendment right and instead would be looking for ways to restore family values which have been ignored by a society which has rejected Christianity and its associated moral teachings.  (Have I mentioned my affection for run on sentences?)

On this President’s Day I marvel at  George Washington in his Farewell Address, his love of liberty and his attempt to explain why he needed to step down and let others take the lead; not exactly a man who only sought for power as many would have us believe.

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: 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 ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.  It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?”  

{…}

“In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression I could wish; that they will control the usual current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the course which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations. But, if I may even flatter myself that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism; this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated.”

{…}

“Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that, after forty five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest.”

Weighing all the information available regarding George Washington and his place in history; it simply doesn’t add up that he was in it for the power grab as some have portrayed.  Perhaps other presidents have exhibited these less than honorable traits; but let’s not tear down a truly great president just so we can justify what others have done.  Happy President’s Day.

This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.