(NOTE: This post is an epilogue to a six-part series on our experience at the 9/12 Taxpayer Protest in Washington DC, held on September 12th, 2009. This is the last post in the series "THE 9/12 EXPERIENCE". Return To: PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE PART FOUR PART FIVE PART SIX.)
The day after 9/12 was a time for reflection for us. What did it mean, if anything? What to do now? We stayed in the Washington DC area for one more night, and I will document some of that here, and I will try to gather my thoughts as well.
On 9/12, as we exited The National Archives, there was a sign that someone had left outside the exit:
As citizens of The USA, we had showed up and demonstrated that we refuse to remain silent. What will happen to The USA and to our lives going forward? No one can say for sure. Will The USA continue to exist as a Constitutional Republic? God willing it will, but IF it does, then one thing that is for sure is that NEVER AGAIN will we have the luxury of not being actively involved as citizens of the USA in our government. It will no longer be enough to just vote and write a letter now and then to your senator or representative. The RESPONSIBILITY of citizenship will be paramount in order to maintain the RIGHTS of citizenship. I will have more thoughts on this at the end of this post.
Before that, there are a few more photos to share:
On the morning after 9/12, we spoke again with some patriots from Virginia who were heading back home. These were the first folks whom I spoke with on the morning of 9/12 at our hotel, and then we saw tham at breakfast on the morning after the 9/12 March. They had gone to participate in the march as well. Really nice and very knowledgeable would describe them to a tee. There was mention of Saul Alinsky's book Rules For Radicals during our discussion and observations of how The Left puts those into practice. One of their group also took some very nice photos of our group for us.
We stayed for another day and went down The Potomac to visit Mt. Vernon later that afternoon.. At Mt. Vernon we met several groups of people who had been at the 9/12 March. Mt. Vernon is open 365 days a year and is well worth the price of admission. It is a great place and if you are visiting during a time of year with weather that is nice enough so you can explore the grounds of the estate, allow for 2 to 3 hours total for your visit, and take your time-I PROMISE it will be worthwhile. Check out the very well done website for everything from hours of operation to descriptions of archaeological work. Mt. Vernon is privately operated by the Mt. Vernon Ladies Association which has been in operation since 1853 and throughout its history has neither requested nor accepted any government funding .
A stained-glass window montage that is in the atrium of the Ford Orientation Center. There is an excellent 20-minute orientation film that is available in this building that is highly recommended.
An excellent model of the main house at Mt. Vernon.
No pictures are permitted inside the main house. There is a Virtual Tour on the Mt. Vernon website.
The view from the porch of the main house overlooking The Potomac River, looking upriver in the direction of Alexandria, Virginia which was a major Atlantic Ocean seaport in George Washington's time. About 15 miles in this direction is Washington DC.
This is the view of The Potomac from the porch of the main house, looking downriver.
This is looking up toward the main house from the "back yard"; The Potomac River is behind the photographer.
This is the shot the photgrapher gets by turning 180-degrees toward the Potomac from the previous shot.
This is a blue-tailed salamander that some children caught near the brick wall. This was caught by the children of a family from Texas who were in the area for the 9/12 March. The father of the family and I had an impromptu and interesting discussion about their personal experiences with healthcare and the education of their children, and what the future might hold for our country. I thought it most appropriate, and humbling as well, to have such a discussion in the very place that George Washington doubtless had discussed matters of import to the then-fledgling USA.
This is a large pecan tree that sits just to the south of the main house at Mt. Vernon. It was clearly alive in George Washington's time. Maybe George Washington planted this tree.
This is the approach to the Washington Family tomb on the grounds of Mt. Vernon.
The entrance to the tomb itself. (click on photo to enlarge)
The crypt in which the body of George Washington is buried.
An inscription on the wall inside the tomb. (click on photo to enlarge)
A view through the front gate of the main grounds of Mt. Vernon, with the west side of the main house visible in the distance.
A view looking in the other direction from the previous photo, looking out through the front gate of the Mt. Vernon to the west.
At the end of the walking tour is the Reynolds Museum and Education Center. Just inside the entrance from the grounds is this painting. This is an outstanding facility. (click on photo to enlarge)
Below the painting is this plaque. (click on photo to enlarge)
The entrance to the exhibits in the museum. (click on photo to enlarge)
Many quotes from George Washington are noted in the museum. Here is one of them. The word "service" has the last letter cut off in this photo. I think it is a key word in the sentence.
These "Rules Of Civility" are an interesting read; the exhibit allows one to read them, one-by-one.
A scale-model diorama of The Battle Of Fort Necessity. The picture does not do this justice at all. It is exellently done. It is said that Washington had two bullets pass through his coat during this engagement, but he was unwounded. (click on photo to enlarge)
The "Liberty Pole". (click photo to enlarge)
Another quote of George Washington. (click photo to enlarge)
A handprint outline placed on a page of a bible, representing George Washington's swearing-in as the first President of The United States. Pressing the blue button activates the audio portion of the display. (click photo to enlarge)
A description at the museum display which highlights Washington's departure from public life. (I should have left the flash off in this photo-my apologies!). (click photo to enlarge)
George Washington was offered the position of "King of The United States Of America", and "President For Life". He turned both down. What if he had accepted? How different would our lives be? No one can say, but I can only imagine being in Washington's position and wrestling with the decision as to whether to accept such an offer. (click photo to enlarge)
The sages tell us that we should learn from history so as not to repeat the mistakes therein. On the other hand, there are also lessons of success held within history as well. Clearly the history of the USA includes both success and failure. The Constitution and its inherent responsibilities and rights are the bedrock upon which The USA has continued. If we are to continue going forward, each individual citizen must decide how, and if, they will apply the Constitution in their daily lives, so by inference each must at least have a copy of the Constitution to read and since it is a relatively short and simple document, make it a goal to both read it and to learn it as well. Once that is done, we must hold our elected representatives to Constitutional principles in each and every case.
In our Constitutional Republic form of government, the AUTHORITY to govern is given to THE PEOPLE (citizens) who then delegate that authority to their elected representatives, who then serve (remember Washington's quote in the report above?)those citizens as their representatives. The Constitution intentionally limits the powers of the central government to which those representatives are elected.
It is clear that the founders of The USA operated with both faith and courage. There was no guarantee of success when the USA was founded and frankly failure in The War For Independence would have guaranteed hanging in the town square, by the neck until dead, for the participants. The risked everything they had because they believed, as Patrick Henry stated, "...is life so dear and peace so sweet so as to be purchased with the chains of slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may choose, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!".
The crucial question is: What will we, at this point in history, be willing to risk, and what will we choose to do?
Will we choose slavery to our central government with the goal of removing the risk from our lives? Will we instead honor the intent and the sacrifice of our Founders and stand firm for the Constitution, and risk everything as the Founders did so that our descendants may enjoy the RIGHTS that come along with the RESPONSIBILITIES of our Constitutional Republic?
The action that we take in response to this question WILL determine our future. I pray, as did Patrick Henry, that we choose LIBERTY. Life and Peace at the price of slavery, to our central goverment or to anyone else, is not worth the cost.
This is the last post in the series "THE 9/12 EXPERIENCE". Return To: PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE PART FOUR PART FIVE PART SIX EPILOGUE
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