President’s Day provides a unique opportunity for us to reflect as Americans on those sacred values embodied by George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and sadly assess our own disconnect from this country’s greatest leaders, the only explanation for the agonizing 2024 cough-up of Donald Trump.
Washington and Lincoln both possessed tremendous qualities of manly dignity, gravitas, and commitment to justice. Their character enabled them to provide leadership in critical periods of our country’s history, seeing the welfare of the many beyond the temptations of narrow individual appetites, hurts, cave-ins to narcissism, and callow submission to division.
Their preparation as sons of the Enlightenment – their reading, their closeness to nature, their suffering, their contemplation, and the trials that shaped them as men of action – put them on better footing to resist the whining tendencies miring those who try to climb to power in our shockingly depleted times.
Unlike those in our midst now, shaped by shag carpets, golf courses, makeup chairs and fluorescent lighting, these men took in hand the awful lessons of the land. Washington was a surveyor. His generalship of the Continental Army in the American Revolution hinged on his deep understanding of topography, a discipline developed not remotely or theoretically but from riding, working, and fashioning wisdom from wilderness toughness.
Lincoln, too, built himself in the wild, in his case on the Mississippi River, as a boatman, absorbing the country from the vantage point of its major artery, that vital channel uniting north and south, finding in the currents of the river vitality at the heart of America, to complement and reinforce the great man’s learning of the law, Shakespeare, and the Greeks.
The combination of humility and nobility empowered Washington to declare America free of kings – and free of the dumb chains of power for its own sake – and to insist on the peaceful transition from this nation’s first presidential administration to the second, establishing a sacred precedent. A similar lived experience enabled Lincoln to understand the necessity of preserving the union amid paralyzing fracture.
This President’s Day, let us remember that on Feb. 21st, 1861, President-elect Abraham Lincoln addressed the New Jersey Legislature in two separate speeches, wherein he took pains to recognize that the Garden State didn’t vote for him, and leaned on a shared history forged in part by Washington.
“I understand myself to be received here by the representatives of the people of New-Jersey, a majority of whom differ in opinion from those with whom I have acted,” Lincoln said. “This manifestation is therefore to be regarded by me as expressing their devotion to the Union, the Constitution and the liberties of the people.”
He took time to refer to the struggle for liberty at the Battle of Trenton, led by his predecessor, then-General Washington.
“The crossing of the river; the contest with the Hessians; the great hardships endured at that time, all fixed themselves on my memory more than any single revolutionary event; and you all know, for you have all been boys, how these early impressions last longer than any others,” said Lincoln. “I recollect thinking then, boy even though I was, that there must have been something more than common that those men struggled for; that something even more than National Independence; that something that held out a great promise to all the people of the world to all time to come; I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made.”
The President-elect expressed his hope of being what he described as “a humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty… for perpetuating the object of that great struggle.” Days later, on March 4th of that same year, in his first inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln spoke to America at large amid increasingly perilous times. “We are not enemies, but friends,” Lincoln said. “We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
Today, whatever the nightmarish and ghoulish currents roiling, which supplant gravitas with self-pity and largeness of spirit with hunched meanness, let’s remember these men who walked and rode in our midst, Washington and Lincoln, shaped by the country, and know they had the courage not only to protect our ideals, but to declare themselves our friends.
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President’s Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February each year. It is a day to honor and remember all of the past presidents of the United States, as well as to celebrate the office of the presidency itself. In New Jersey, President’s Day is a time for residents to come together and embrace unity and friendship.
One of the most popular ways to celebrate President’s Day in New Jersey is by attending various events and activities that are organized throughout the state. From parades and historical reenactments to special museum exhibits and educational programs, there are plenty of opportunities for residents to learn more about the history of the presidency and the impact that past presidents have had on our country.
One of the highlights of President’s Day celebrations in New Jersey is the annual parade that takes place in many cities and towns across the state. These parades often feature marching bands, floats, and costumed reenactors portraying famous presidents and historical figures. They are a fun and festive way for residents to come together and show their pride in their country and its leaders.
In addition to parades, many museums and historical sites in New Jersey also host special events and exhibits in honor of President’s Day. These events often include lectures, tours, and hands-on activities that allow visitors to learn more about the presidency and the history of our nation. They are a great way for residents to deepen their understanding of the importance of the presidency and its role in shaping our country.
Overall, President’s Day celebrations in New Jersey are a time for residents to come together and embrace unity and friendship. By learning more about the history of the presidency and the impact that past presidents have had on our country, residents can gain a greater appreciation for the office of the presidency and the values that it represents. So, this President’s Day, why not join in on the celebrations and take part in the festivities that are happening in your community? It’s a great way to honor our past presidents and celebrate the unity and friendship that binds us all together as Americans.