It’s great to get a day off work for any reason, so hey, I’ll take it. But I’m not a huge fan of calling today President’s Day because it seems like one of the first steps towards participation trophy mentality that is damning the popular culture.
It’s never been officially established as President’s Day, it just morphed into being called that because someone must have decided it was gauche to celebrate two great presidents’ birthdays 10 days apart. To me, this will always be the celebration of George Washington’s birthday - actually February 22. It became a holiday in 1869, and he so truly deserves a day to be remembered and honored. The reason there is such a thing as American exceptionalism is because of the exceptionalism of this man.
I’ve visited Washington’s home at Mount Vernon on three different occasions. Each time I’ve been there, I’ve felt such gratitude for such a man as George Washington. There is peace there in a perfect marriage of form and function. The last time I was there, I went through the tour of the home, sat on the rocking chair lined porch which overlooks the Potomac, and wandered the grounds. As I walked, I found myself thinking, “No wonder Washington didn’t want to be the king - he was already a king right here!”
As we come to this earth to practice dominion over ourselves, I’ve learned to appreciate those who take that stewardship seriously, watching the stewardship expand with good use, as the parable of the talents teaches (see Matthew 25). There’s something exceptional about those extraordinary humans who, talent, intellect and leadership notwithstanding, prefer their empires small.
It was exceptional that Washington refused to become king at the end of the Revolutionary War. Upon learning of his resignation as commander of the Continental Army and refusing a kingship, King George III remarked he was “the greatest man in the world.” At the time? Absolutely. And today? Which of our power-hungry politicians would do such a thing?
It was exceptional that Washington refused to become king after the Constitutional Convention, and that after being resoundingly nominated and elected the first president, shocked the world by stepping away after two terms of office - subtly suggesting that that was enough time for ANY federal office holder to serve.
Now, when I hear today referred to as a day to honor all the presidents who have served, I feel sad. Of course it’s appropriate to be glad for their service, but it’s done our country a great disservice to pretend that all served equally well by clumping that honor into one day, and completely diluting the original meaning of the holiday in the process - that of honoring one of the greatest men who has ever lived, and one who set a precedence worth following, not abandoning.
Excellence in character and leadership shouldn’t be diminished because we’ll make any who served in a lesser way feel bad. Thomas Jefferson used to call good men rising in society a “natural aristocracy” - it was a man’s talent, intelligence, and integrity which caused him to rise to natural leadership. Why? Because excellence has always been, and always should be something to emulate.
I think I’ll enjoy the day off today, but celebrate and honor one of my true heroes on February 22. It’s my own private little effort to not give each and every president a participation trophy today. I want to celebrate the one that started the whole thing with his singular approach to public service, and I pray more honorable men step up to do the same kind of work that still needs to be done.
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