Trump Proves Why Only George Washington Should be Honored on the Holiday for His Birthday

Every year, I advocate for a restoration of the holiday of “George Washington’s Birthday,” which is the name of the federal holiday, but not that of most States in the American Union and not used in common parlance, both of which usually refer to it, if not as “Washington and Lincoln’s Birthdays,” but especially as “Presidents’ Day” or something similar. I explain how the holiday is never observed on Washington’s February 22 birthday, and that it was intended to celebrate not only Washington’s presidency or the Presidents or the presidency in general, but Washington’s indispensable contributions as the General who led the Continental Army in the American Revolution and as a Founding Father. His great character, particularly his bravery, willingness to make great sacrifices out of service to his State and America, his honesty and integrity, is an exemplary one for all Americans. I have noted in the past that honoring Washington alone is a unifying practice, instead of a divisive one by honoring all the Presidents, and especially how honoring those who were scoundrels, particularly the two who had dodged the military draft during the Cold War through deception, namely William J. Clinton and Donald J. Trump, would be inappropriate and harmful to the spirit of the American people. Alas, Trump’s poor character, which has caused unprecedented corruption, authoritarianism, cruelty, dishonesty, and a decrease of understanding or respect for American ideals, has proven my point. The presidency was created by the Framers of the Constitution at the Constitutional Convention that Washington chaired in Philadelphia in 1787 with Washington in mind for the office, and his immediate successor as President, fellow Founding Father John Adams, had prayed that only people of good character would ever hold the office. But the cult of the presidency has grown along with its disproportionate power relative to the other Branches of Government, particularly the Legislative, as has populism, at the expense of federalism, fiscal discipline, discernment and restraint, in violation of the principles of the Founders and Washington. Restoring “Washington’s Birthday” would remind Americans not only of the Father of his Country’s contributions to America throughout his life and his character, but of the ideals of the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers that remain as timely as ever.