Great Documents:

Remembering the Past, Fixing Our Gaze on the Future

There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily.  – George Washington

It has been said that a nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it. – Sir Winston Churchill

Let there be no doubt—History will repeat itself!

The Education Committee believes that if Sir Winston could, he would even now be crying out to the people of America—“Wake Up! Wake Up! Have You Heard What I Said?  Have You Actually Heard What I Said?”

Sir Winston’s declaration of so many years ago is as an arrow in a bent bow.  And that wisdom-tipped arrow is now taking dead aim at the hearts of the people of America.   The question that remains—as the arrow is released:  Will Americans awaken to history?  Sir Winston’s words have proven themselves true—his words continue to ring out loud and clear. . .louder and clearer today than yesterday—an unforgettable and sometimes shocking, clarion ring. . .What then are we to do with this great and marvelous truth that Sir Winston has shared with us?

With tedious lists and the endless memorization of significant names, events, and dates, many Americans have been led to believe that studying their Nation’s history, any history, is dull and is something to be avoided.  It’s no wonder then why history continues to repeat itself — vital life lessons which should have been garnered from history have never been learned!  The study of history has been shamelessly and entirely avoided.  In large measure, in our knowledge of history, We the People are embarrassingly clueless.  The richness of our Nation’s great history, let alone the history of the world, has been and is being passed over with little fanfare, with little luster.  The great Founders of our Nation are even now being lost in the thick cloud of dust that is being kicked up as many Americans, especially her younger citizens, are being beckoned and are racing headlong down the path of a new, more meaningful history—the living history of our Nation.  “Out with the Old and In with the New” seem to be the bywords as America’s history is now being prepared to start with the 1880’s and to move forward—a dynamic, adaptable, flexible history—a history for which our fellow countrymen will no longer feel the need to apologize.  WHAT IS WRONG HERE?. . . IS THIS PROGRESS IN A TRANSFORMING NATION. . .IS THIS THE ELIMINATION OF A USELESS, AGRARIAN-BASED PAST. . .IS THIS THEN THE EXCEPTION TO SIR WINSTON’S RULE OF HISTORY’S REPEATING ITSELF. . .DOES AMERICA’S PAST HAVE NO MEANING FOR HER FUTURE?

Is it time to pull in the reigns of that transforming progress until Americans have had the time to look at what is actually happening right under their noses—looking at their Nation’s proposed transformation in the light of history?  Is it time to take a second-look or perhaps the first-look at some of those passed-over pages of our history?   Is now the time to read, to study, and to put the feather in our caps for having made the sacrifice of taking the history books from the shelves, dusting them off, and reading them for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren, our friends—reading first-hand what was actually said and accomplished by the myriad of great men and women who so willingly sacrificed their lives, their fortunes, and their families in service to our Nation. . . .Yes, it is that time!  THE TIME IS NOW!

Endeavoring to assist you as you begin dusting-off the pages of history, the Education Committee will begin to redistribute the wealth of our Great Nation with the posting of links to many immensely priceless documents which have had enormous bearing on our history—which by all rights should be bearing on our lives today.  Will you join us as we read/as we study? Will you join the Education Committee each month by taking the time to read Great Documents, taking the time to educate yourself, taking the time to REMEMBER THE PAST—REMEMBER THE PAST OF OUR GRANDPARENTS, OUR GREAT-GRANDPARENTS AND OUR GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS. . .BECAUSE HISTORY DOES REPEAT ITSELF.

Will you lock arms with the Education Committee as we seize this opportunity to REMEMBER THE GREATNESS IN OUR NATION’S PAST—AS WE FIX OUR GAZE ON ITS FUTURE—as together we take the time to read Great Documents from the past and learn first-hand the truths that made our Nation The Greatest Nation in the World?

Each month, the Education Committee will select and post/link to a Great Document.

With honor being given to our first President, Great Documents will open with

President George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)

President George Washington's Farewell Address

George Washington served our nation as its first President until 1797. To the surprise of many, he chose not to run for a third, four-year term.

President Washington’s Farewell Address is thought by many to be one of the Nation’s greatest documents.   It is said to have gone through a number of drafts with suggestions being made by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.  Some believe that the Address was presented in the form of warnings from a parting friend. The President stressed national unity, warned of foreign and domestic threats to the new Union, cautioned against long-term alliances with other nations, and addressed the importance of good character, unselfishness, cooperation, respect. . .”Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.  In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of man and citizens.”

Every year since l896, the US Senate has observed Washington’s Birthday by selecting one of its members, alternating parties, to present the Farewell Address in legislative session.  At the conclusion of each reading, the appointed senator inscribes his or her name and brief remarks in a black, leather-bound book maintained by the Secretary of the Senate.  This can be further studied and seen HERE>>>>>. This year the Farewell Address was read by Illinois’s Senator Roland Burris.

The document’s final draft is now housed at New York, New York Public Library.  Its first and last pages can be seen by CLICKING HERE>>>>>. The Farewell Address itself can easily be located on numerous internet sites including that of Yale Law School (CLICK HERE to read Washington’s Farewell Address on that website).  Interesting facts concerning the document abound on many of these same sites.  (For example, we know that this famous work was never actually delivered orally by Washington.  It was printed in Philadelphia’s American Daily Advertiser on September 19, 1796.)

TIP:  When reading some historical documents, a dictionary may be a practical reference tool.

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As an incentive for those who take this challenge of reading one of the Great Documents and who read George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796), the Education Committee will present a copy of this particular document published by the U S Government Printing Office to one fortunate reader.  If you read this document and would like an opportunity to own a copy in booklet form, after you have read the Farewell Address, e-mail/have a friend e-mail the Education Coordinator at: education@centralillinois912project.com.  Indicate in the e-mail: you have read the document, your phone, and your mailing address.  Your name will then be entered into a drawing.  The winner of the US Government Printing Office copy of George Washington’s Farewell Address will be notified by phone/e-mail on April 3, 2010.  (If you know someone who does not have access to a computer, please be a friend and print a copy for them, let them use your computer, point them to the public library’s computer, forward an e-mail for them.  Thank you.)