The Watcher’s Council

George Washington’s birthday was February 22nd, 1732. His birthday used to be celebrated as a special day, separate and unique to him, as befitted the man who was the Father of our country. Nowadays, he’s lumped in with all the others in something called ‘President’s Day’ while lesser men have special days of their own. I have never quite gotten used to that ingratitude.
Our Revolution was unique in that it was not class based, but anchored on the simple principle that Americans were entitled to G-d given rights and liberties as free men, not mere subjects of a foreign crown. Contrary to popular belief, there was not universal support in the American Colonies for that position.
George Washington was a man of wealth and property in what was then considered middle age. He could have chosen to sit things out, as many others in his position did. Instead, like the other Founders, he chose to risk his life, fortune and sacred honor to join in what then must have seemed a lost cause, sheer fantasy, the idea that a hastily mustered and ill-financed colonial army could win a war against a major world power.
Had the fortunes of war gone against him and the Rebellion put down, George Washington, along with the other Founders knew full well he would have been hung as a traitor to the British Crown. He didn’t hesitate to risk everything for what he thought was right.
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