Heather Cox Richardson, in her Letters From an American, a model column writer for all writers summarized beautifully the Revolutionary War that brought our country into being . Here is a direct quote from the that column in her June 14th 2026 column .

“In 1817, given the choice of subjects to paint for the Rotunda in the U.S. Capitol, being rebuilt after the British had burned it during the War of 1812, fine artist John Trumbull picked the moment of Washington’s resignation from the army. As he discussed the project with President James Madison, Trumbull told the president: “I have thought that one of the highest moral lessons ever given to the world, was that presented by the conduct of the commander-in-chief, in resigning his power and commission as he did, when the army, perhaps, would have been unanimously with him, and few of the people disposed to resist his retaining the power which he had used with such happy success, and such irreproachable moderation.”

Our country’s history offers examples of unprecedented morality even if that same history also offers a substantial number of dark and tragic events that could well be called immoral. The above quote is the model for today in terms of knowing one’s limits as well as aspirations and making the ultimate good decision.  George Washington had a sense of good that transcended his faults in a time when the world needed an example of giving up “power offered on a plate” for the good of “we the people”.  His capacity to step away from power could be the center piece of celebration for this 250th birthday.  This writer weeps at the tragedy of this moment in our history when a faction of politicians, voraciously, insatiably,  hungry for power, hold enough sway to smudge the celebration of democracy and lack the humility required to lead a nation of people who are willing to share this nation’s power with all including the most vulnerable.

Modest Proposal for Good

Private power and wealth are positioning to bring this country to its knees and milk it for all it is worth. They have nearly accomplished their task. Our birthday as a nation could be a reminder that we were formed as a nation, not out of power and wealth, but courage, grit, personal generosity, and the humility of office needed to sacrifice power and wealth for the common good. This is not complicated. The future task of America is simply hard for the time we are in.  Nothing George Washington, the father of this country, did was easy. He did the hard thing.  To the powerful and wealthy of this nation, this project suggests the common good is the only way you can possibly atone your positions.  The sad irony is when power and wealth are not atoned through sacrifice and generosity, power and wealth sickens into shameful extravagance.  Good here is celebrating the virtues that made this unlikely plural congregation of often brilliant, creative human beings into a working nation.  Lets celebrate E pluribus unum which if you forgot is the Nation’s formal motto.  That would be good.