- 11/02/2013
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
George Washington stands at the origins of American national history. He is largely involved in all undertakings that forced the transformation of the thirteen colonies into a union of sovereign republics, and then in the first modern federal state. Thinking about George Washington it is necessary to say that his farewell address to the nation, which he decided to publish, when in the public mind was still alive the hope that the president will run for a new, third term, is the important document even nowadays.
Analyzing George Washington’s Farewell Address, we see that in the 32-page handwritten address, president urged Americans to avoid undue political party spirit and geographical differentiations. We could mention that Washington was also interested in foreign affairs and in this area, he warned future government against long-term alliances with other nations. In other words, it was emphasized necessity of temporary alliances and avoided existence of permanent alliances that could destroy nation. In relate to situations America finds itself involved with today we see that America on the contrary looking for long-term and entangling alliances, because they are variations of future perspective of the nation and allow to influence on the situation in the whole world. Due to Washington’s words, we see that foreign policy was also in tight connection with Christian values and in the acknowledgment of this fact, we could quote the next statement from the Farewell Address: “Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct.”
Thinking about how religion influence on the functioning of society today we see that situation greatly differ from Washington ideas, because today it is difficult to understand how the American public functionate, if you do not understand how dynamic is its religious life, which determines attitudes and behavior of its members. We cannot deny the fact that religious institutions remain in force in our society, or that religion has had a clearly positive effect on the formation of America. However, when we try to measure the depth of our religious beliefs, the depth of faith leaves much to be desired, at least in terms of traditional religion. Americans believe in God, but that God often asserts and supports them, without showing them the requirements, they are not fully committed to it. According to Washington ideas and today situation we see their link in fact that religion is a part of socio-cultural relations, the operation that allows us to understand the way of social life. It acts as a factor legitimizing those or other forms of activity; legitimation is not just this or that individual rules, but also most of the normative orders.
Like the conclusion, we could say that Washington’s Farewell Address was a plan for activity for future president and this Address was a kind of future forecast. George Washington outlined his views on the future of American nation and gave recommendations on what line should follow the Government in the conduct of foreign and domestic policy. Thinking about nowadays situation in different governmental directions, we see that Washington was right in some his words that were actual in those times, but some of his recommendation became old-fashioned. Despite all differences of Washington’s words and today’s reality we should remember that he was a prominent politician for many centuries, and exactly his actions allowed American nation to develop itself more and more.
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