Sahana Narayan: Week 9 - Washington's Prophecy
Sahana Narayan - Week 9: Washington's Prophecy – 1/19 [6:35 PM]
There are many forces in history that have shaped who we are today: as people, as a country, and as a society. War, depression, migration. We learn about these forces constantly in our history classes and English classes. But one component I feel we often miss out on is the force of speech. From the beginning of time, people have used speech to break down barriers, to form alliances, and to really give meaning to our actions and words. There is a certain power to the art of speech, and in honor of that sentiment, here is a guide to one of my favorite speeches.
While I’m not the biggest supporter of George Washington, his farewell address in 1796 amazes me specifically because of how accurate he is in his predictions about America’s future. In this speech, he first emphasizes that the American people should remain united with little regard to regional or cultural differences because that division will only further disadvantage us. He realizes that America was built on the idea that each part of the country should work together for the benefit of the nation rather than the benefit of their own part, and only then, will America be stronger. Washington says, “...all the parts combined cannot fail to find in the united mass of means and efforts greater strength, greater resource, proportionably greater security from external nations…” In today’s political climate, we see how people have become so attached to the lines drawn in society, both geographical or cultural lines. We continuously further division, preventing us from making actions that actually benefit our country as a whole.
Washington also warns the American people about another potential factor of division: the formation of political parties. He realizes that parties will naturally form, but is fearful of party dominance and that people will soon start to “seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual…” Washington states that partisan division agitates the community and also opens the affairs of the American people to foreign intervention. Again, we see this sentiment ring true in regards to our political climate currently. Republicans and Democrats struggle for power and dominance, and the American people blindly idolize their politicians. The clear Russian involvement in the 2016 American election also proves his beliefs about parties allowing foreign influences in our elections and government.
One of his final points is a reminder to maintain strictly economic relationships with other nations, or to not have a relationship at all. Now, I find this point a little naive seeing how most successful countries need to maintain foreign relationships. That’s how we won the war against the British in the first place! But I do feel his reasoning still remains true. Washington says, “In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded.” He justifies this because he feels it is necessary to avoid foreign wars and other menial conflicts. While America did try to maintain a policy of isolation for a short period of time, we did end up foregoing that policy. I won’t spend too much time arguing whether that decision was correct or not because that’s a whole other discussion, but I will say: we have been involved in a lot of foreign wars and conflicts since we dismissed our policies of isolation, and in that sense: Washington was right.
Hi Sahana! It is very cool that you have a favorite speech and an actual opinion on George Washington. To me, George Washington is just some important guy we learned about in first grade history and speeches are just passages where people try to sound powerful and inspirational and are irritating because we have to analyze them in almost every English class. In second grade, I had a phase where I really wanted to be president, the part where they gave really meaningful speeches scared me because I didn't think I could come up with something so impressive. I'm not sure if all speeches are like this, but when I learned that many presidential speeches were written by someone else, I felt kind of disappointed and all speeches just kind of lost power and meaning to me.
ReplyDeleteHi Sahana! I found your blog fascinating as it connected the power of language with the nation-changing farewell address speech of Washington. Similar to you, I also can visualize the effects of his beliefs on our modern society such as the importance of people in the government and specific limitations on parties to prevent the formation of a monarchy. I agree that his request to refrain from engaging thoroughly in expanding foreign connections may not be most valid in our contemporary world due to the dependence nations have on one another for resources, and finance. While Britain may have controlled America for a period of time, it is not reasonable to make an absolute conclusion as such following one incident involving another nation. Although they might be similar in context, there are chances that they are quite different as to how Britain acted towards America. Thank you for the informational blog, and I am looking forward to reading your next blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Sahana! I remember learning about Washington’s farewell address a few months ago in history class. It was ironic to see that, almost immediately after he left office, the country became divided into two distinct political parties, Federalists and Democratic Republicans. I also really liked Washington’s ideas about maintaining minimal international relationships. It’s cool to see how at such an early point in our country's history, Washington already had the foresight to avoid these relationships because he already understood that it could drag us into the business of other countries.
ReplyDeleteHey Sahana, I also agree that it's very impressive that Washington was able to predict so much about America in his farewell address. While his prediction that political parties would be divisive in the grand scheme of our nation, I think that partisan groups are almost necessary to a government, reflecting the needs and desires of different groups with alternative approaches to issues that a budding nation may face, which is crucial in determining the future of America. Additionally, his recognition that foreign relations would be dangerous to America's early formative years was wise, but in doing so he completely ignored the French during their time of crisis, despite their significant contribution to the success of our revolution. However, it is understandable that a just-formed nation refuse to enter a time of more conflict, bloodshed, and expenditure. Overall, his insight so early in American history is very impressive considering how accurate and effective it was to America's initial years as a nation.
ReplyDeleteHi Sahana, While I remember learning about Washington’s prophecy and farewell address sometime in middle school, I did not really remember what it was about, so your blog was really interesting. I think it is really impressive that so many of his warnings and predictions came true relatively quickly after he left office. I agree with his analysis that making distinctions among us will only make America weaker. For example, today Americans are distinguished from one another based on factors like political party, religion, or country of origin. In an ideal world, these distinctions would be minimized, which would allow us to grow as a nation. Another idea that I really agree with is Washington’s warnings about creating two distinct political parties. There are many times when having two political parties that are vastly different from one another is counterproductive because neither side is willing to compromise for the country’s greater interests. When politicians and leaders are motivated by their own party interests rather than thinking about the good of the nation, the nation inevitably suffers, and progress takes much longer. I think America should have done a better job of listening to Washington’s advice and not overemphasizing political parties. I do, however, disagree with Washington’s belief that the US should stay isolated and neutral from world conflicts, because ultimately what happens in the rest of the world will affect us. Furthermore, if the US has the power to help people in other countries, I believe that we need to uphold this responsibility. Overall, I really liked your blog and your analysis of one of Washington’s most powerful and important speeches.
ReplyDeleteHi Sahana! I've always been fascinated with how leaders use their oration to inspire people for generations to come. Washington's warning to the nation of how such a divisive political mindset can lead a country to ruins. Nowadays we see such a more polarized country than ever and that is why I think Washington's statement is more poignant now than ever. The two-party system has left our country with no alternatives only voting the less of the evils election after election. Both these two parties are not fundamentally different either. They overinflate minute issues to turn the sides against each other when both of them support the same system that America operates under. In Europe, President Biden would be considered a conservative while here Republicans deem him as a communist and a member of the radical left. It's essentially just a blame game and I agree with Washington wholeheartedly.
ReplyDeleteLeaders can make such a massive change on the world just through their words. Even a false promise, one that a leader has no business making and no intention of keeping, may be enough to maintain the support of millions of people. Washington, and his warnings to the country in his farewell speech, in my opinion is particularly important to American society. He had just overthrown a the chains of rule and placed himself in charge: he was for that time period, perhaps the most pure man to ever rule a country, with him placing himself in charge for his people rather than himself. His warnings are of particular importance today, when the two parities of America are literally fighting it our on the Senate floor. I agree with George Washington completely and hope that America may soon rise to glory once more.
ReplyDeleteHi Sahana, even I am amazed by the accuracy of Washington's Farewell address. He said it in 1776 and till now his warnings have just been getting more and more true. All throughout history we can see examples of how the formation of political parties affect America negatively. Today, Congress is a mess because of political parties. It is so much harder to get a bill passed nowadays no matter how beneficial the bill is because people are more concerned with the party that the bill represents and not the actual reasoning behind it.
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