Category Archives: words

Happy Birthday George Washington

Posted on by February 22, 2017

GeorgeWashingtonToday, February 22, is George Washington’s birthday.

As we reflect on his life, it becomes apparent that he was an unusual and uncommon man. The things he accomplished in his 67 years on the earth are just astonishing.

He became a surveyor and businessman at the age of 15. He was a hero in the French and Indian War. He was a terrific dancer and married Martha just a few months after their first meeting. He turned Mount Vernon into a beautiful mansion and a business center with a carpenters shop, blacksmith shop, fishing business, and a farm with sheep, wheat, and other animals and crops. read more

George Washington and Rules of Civility

Posted on by February 21, 2017

When George Washington was still very young, his father, Augustine, employed a mentor, a tutor, to help George perfect his penmanship. To accomplish this his teacher would dictate some sentences to George so that he could write these words over and over again to perfect his writing. George became a very good and easy to read writer.

GW RulesAt the same time, George was introduced forcefully into the world of decent behavior when he was in company with other children and adults. He learned manners, customs, and behaviors that would be acceptable when in company. He learned to behave and converse with ease. It affected his character. read more

Happy Birthday George Washington

Posted on by February 20, 2017

Landsdowne paintingI was a little bit encouraged and heartened by the newscasts today. I’m talking about the treatment and reporting about President’s Day. Two of the popular news show reporters on the evening news, when talking about the holiday actually referred to George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

They bantered back and forth and postulated that the holiday actually came about to honor Washington and Lincoln who were both born in the month of February. It was a nice conversation. But then they admitted that President’s Day has changed. Now we kind of honor many of the late U.S. Presidents. Oh well, it was a good start. read more

Posted on by February 18, 2017

President George Washington

I am officially chagrined. Meaning marked by disappointment, annoyed, vexed and irritated. One of my favorite TV talk show hosts treated President’s Day like most uninformed or misinformed students today.
He went around a busy college and showed pictures of several U.S. Presidents and asked the young people if they knew who the person in the picture was.

Of course, most of those asked didn’t have a clue as to which President was pictured. That was to be expected. What I did not expect was that the moderator treated President’s Day as if it were a day to honor any president of your choosing. That wasn’t the idea when the holiday came into being. But that’s what he made it sound like. read more

President’s Day Heroes

Posted on by February 17, 2017

GeorgeWashingtonWith our Holiday, President’s Day, coming up next Monday, I thought I’d favor you with a few quotes from the two President’s Day Presidents: Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character give him power.” –Abe Lincoln

“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.” –George Washington

“It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe without the agency of a Supreme Being. And it is impossible to govern the universe without the aid of a Supreme Being.” –George Washington read more

U. S. Presidents

Posted on by February 16, 2017

Landsdowne paintingYesterday’s post was about President’s Day. I hope you will all be celebrating this holiday. Be sure to remember George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. These are the two presidents for which the day was made a holiday by combining their two birthdays.

Abraham Lincoln loved the early American history, and especially loved George Washington. They were so alike. Both were tall. Abe, “6’4” nearly” and George 6’3” exact on his death bed. You know what happens when you age.

Both men are known for their honesty. George “I cannot tell a lie,” and “Honest Abe.” Both led the country during tumultuous timAbraham_Lincoln_2es. George the Revolutionary War and Abe the Civil War. Both turned to the Bible and to God for protection and inspiration. read more

Our Founding Fathers and Character

Posted on by December 18, 2016

George Washington learned character at an early age because of his father. Among other things, Augustine saw to it that George was mentored in penmanship, and at the same time, CHARACTER.

GW RulesGeorge learned the “110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation” by practicing his penmanship. This became an important part of George’s youth—learning character traits that he valued all his life.

After seeing the results of our last Presidential Election, I am all the more convinced that teaching character is now the most important educational topic that our schools should now be involved in. In athletics and sports, good sportsmanship is taught by the coaches and P.E. instructors. I propose it now needs to be taught as a part of the English curriculum, or in history, or as a separate course. read more

Founding Fathers and Words

Posted on by December 17, 2016

whom?“Be sure when you step,

Step with care and great tact.
And remember that life’s
A great balancing act.

“And will you succeed?
Yes! You will indeed!” Dr. Seuss

And so I was enjoying a show with commentary on a well know television station. Yes, cable. And it was going so well. And then at the end, the host had to add words like these: “Please join Kimberly and I on our . . .” Well, that interrupted everything. It stopped. Just like a conversation with Whom. Who uses ‘whom’ in usual conversation? read more

Benjamin Franklin’s Words

Posted on by December 16, 2016

Ben Franklin thumb pictureThere are some today who would like to subvert the Constitutional Requirement for voting with the Electoral College. Good winners and good losers are not much a part of our national character any more. I am amazed at the name-calling, the wishes against the duly elected President, and just the rancor.

I think we should listen to the words of Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention. Only apply it to ourselves in this situation. Here’s what he said:

“On the whole, Sir, I cannot help expressing a wish that every member of the convention (or American citizens, in this case) who may still have objections to it (the vote, in this case) would, with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility and, to make manifest our unanimity, (or the outcome of the election, in this case) and put his name to the instrument (or accept the outcome).” As quoted in Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes, by Steven W. Allen, 2003, page 199. read more

Character as Displayed by Our Founding Fathers

Posted on by December 14, 2016

Landsdowne paintingAfter writing my blog post about our Vice President Elect, and how he was treated by the cast of Alexander in New York, I was sent an email from a friend that originated from Maureen Dowd. She wrote about extensive background on Mike Pence, our VP elect. It was really well written and eye opening. Until that sad evening, I had wanted to go see the Broadway play. No longer!

I hope you would take the time to find it and read it yourself. Whether you like Mike Pence or not, it makes for good background information. You should be able to find it at topicsnytimes.com. read more