On February 16, 1793, a writer in the Philadelphia General Advertiser called the upcoming celebrations of President Washington’s Birthday in the Capitol, “degrading to the character of a free people." Why should we parrot a “monarchical farce” that harkens back to “the pageantry of royalty?” - ThreadSky

sethcotlar.bsky.social • 23 days ago

On February 16, 1793, a writer in the Philadelphia General Advertiser called the upcoming celebrations of President Washington’s Birthday in the Capitol, “degrading to the character of a free people." Why should we parrot a “monarchical farce” that harkens back to “the pageantry of royalty?”

Reposted from Thomas Zimmer

Shortly after coming to power, the regime orders a massive military parade in the nation’s capital, to be held on the regime leader’s birthday - symbolizing the regime’s claim that the leader embodies the nation.

This should be anathema in a democratic republic. It’s insulting and dangerous.

Comments

sethcotlar.bsky.social•23 days ago

The editor of that Philadelphia paper, btw, was Benjamin Franklin Bache, the grandson of Benjamin Franklin. Opposition to the celebration of GW’s birthday was fueled, in part, by the fawning sycophancy of the Federalist press which tended to deify the President in ways that smacked of monarchism.

jscram3254.bsky.social•23 days ago

Good thing Federalists don’t do that to us anymore!

sethcotlar.bsky.social•23 days ago

The Gazette of the United States (arguably, the Fox News of its day) published a poem on 2/21/1795 with the following stanza in honor of GW's birthday.

lloyd-frombriz.bsky.social•23 days ago

Sounds like a rag that should be better known as the Gazlight of the United States!

sethcotlar.bsky.social•23 days ago

“Already WASHINGTON, like Atlas, stands/ Alone, supporting Empire with his hands; / Alone, the prop of all this vast machine,/ The mortal hero of th’ immortal scene....Chaos will come when WASHINGTON expires.”

sethcotlar.bsky.social•23 days ago

The association of Great Leader with order, the idea that he "alone" can hold things together, the idea that "this vast machine" is animated by the hands of this one great man....this was the sort of autocratic thinking that 1790s democrats found so offensive.

sethcotlar.bsky.social•23 days ago

These 1790s figures who complained about celebrating Washington's birthday weren't just partisan cranks trying to score points. There was a principle at stake: America, unlike monarchical Britain, is not personified in its leader. We do not revere leaders, we CREATE them.

sethcotlar.bsky.social•23 days ago

In 1789 VP John Adams floated the idea to the Senate that the President should always be referred to as “His Highness, the President of the United States of America and the Protector of their Liberties.” The Senate was like “yeah, no. How about Mr. President?”

gbrockell.bsky.social•23 days ago

Toward the end of his second term, Congress voted down a measure to adjourn for 30 minutes to wish Washington well on his birthday. They declined to take a break just to NOT be deferential!

woodydelano.bsky.social•23 days ago

Let’s stop the parade with non-violent civil disobedience. Won’t be difficult with enough of us.

oxidelounge.bsky.social•23 days ago

https://www.nokings.org/

empath75.bsky.social•23 days ago

It’s hard to decide if the correct action to take is to protest it or ignore it. The problem with just ignoring it is that they can get plenty of maga people to attend it.

johncraighammond.bsky.social•23 days ago

bselena.bsky.social•23 days ago

No parades!!

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