What to make of Washington D.C.’s schizophrenic treatment of its own heritage these days? It seems the seat of our federal government just can’t decide whether to honor and embrace the values and beliefs of its namesake – or utterly reject them.
Consider the following events…
First, on Friday, February 20th ~
A group of pastors were forced to find a different location for a racial reconcilation event in Washington, D.C., because their theme included “an appeal to heaven.”
The pastors were originally granted approval to use the Congressional Auditorium in the Washington D.C. Capitol Visitors Center Wednesday. But they were told last Friday they must eliminate reference to heaven from their theme title.
Source: CBN News (includes an interview with one of the pastors leading the event)
So a sincere effort, aimed at healing racial divisions, is somehow not welcome in the nations’ capitol anymore because the word “heaven” is mentioned?
But then – just three days later – on Monday, February 23rd, the U.S. Senate heard a message from the Father of our country: Washington’s Religion Warning Echoes After 200 Years ~
It came through the annual reading of Washington’s farewell address, a tradition that takes place each year on or near the first president’s birthday.
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., read the first president’s warning against the loss of religion in public life.
“Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
~ Farewell Address, 1796 ~
“The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.”
~ First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789
So one moment D.C. says there’s no appealing to heaven allowed, and the next, they’re commemorating the first president to do just that!
In fact, what makes this bi-polar behavior even more ridiculous, is that the Pine Tree Flag (“An Appeal to Heaven”) originated with George Washington himself!
It was flown by a squadron of six cruisers commissioned under (his) authority as commander in chief of the Continental Army in October 1775.
If there was ever a time that Washington D.C. needed to take the advice of the “original” Washington it’s now! Our first president had more wisdom when he left office in 1796 than than entire city does in 2015.
It looks like the only thing we-the-peasants can do at this point is continue to APPEAL TO HEAVEN.
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Related:
Happy Birthday George!
Pastors Kicked Out of Capitol Visitor Center Over ‘Appeal to Heaven’ Prayer
