This past Monday was President’s Day and some entities observed it as a holiday to have facilities closed. That tends to be the only way this day is celebrated any more. As a child, I do remember recognition of it in school. The change in how we celebrate this day says a lot about how we also have changed in consideration of the person or office for the recognition.
The recognition started because this was the birthday of our first president – George Washington. For many years the office and person of the U.S. president was well respected, even in retrospect. We often looked to what George Washington or Abraham Lincoln had said as character guidance. Even though JFK was not popular with many adults here, his statement of “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” was often used as guidance, even by those who did not like him.
Look at the character, reputation, and reception of presidents today. While presidents are human and there have been skeletons in the closet for many, outright “sinfulness” seems to have abounded over the last several decades of our collective memories. Bill Clinton almost lost his job due to adultery, Barack Obama’s legacy was expertise as a street thug, it was politically correct to be a Never-Trumper, and the entire Tribune does not have enough space to present the errors of the current resident of the White House.
The status a president has reflects two things – his own character that shows up in public and the character of his constituents. Both of these have changed tremendously over time. Personally, I had much admiration for the character of President Trump, but the state of what is politically correct reflects how far down the integrity and character ladder “we the people” have fallen. It is my hope that the depth of depravation we now have in the DC swamp is waking us up to a recovery.
