'A Date with George' by Colette

'A Date with George' by Colette - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

Sitting across from him at a candle lit, he’s trying to convince me about giving equal thought into all the menu options as he flattens the ruffles on his petticoat. A gracious and intriguing dinner date: George Washington and I. Though what seems like a weird wish for a teenager, I thoroughly believe his fundamental mindset would solve many of the simple yet complicated world issues we struggle with today.
In 1796 Washington proved a point we still can’t seem to master today: the art of being open minded and humble. Within the rhetorical ingenious of his famous ‘Farewell Address,’ he warned of the dangers of political parties that would later sectionalize America leading to a Civil War and as well as current day stereotyping hatred. Many times nowadays people limit their views to a particular party instead of looking back at the candidate, something Washington forewarned.
Additionally, within his plead for a more open communal dialogue, he takes initiative as a leader to create a political system that ensures democracy for his people instead of taking advantage of the fragility of a new nation. After restricting himself and future presidents from unregulated power, he also created a system of checks and balances and separation of powers to avoid political corruption.
With his strong but genuine persona, I applaud Washington for his revolutionary values we tend to lose sight of today. With no prior outline on democracy, he acts for what is best for his people, not personal gain. I would probably lean over and ask what executive position he would take on many of the confusing issues like the war of terrorism, illegal immigration, universal health care, and so forth while we snack on appetizers. Later, over dinner, I would transition into asking how he would incorporate ethics into modern day politics.
Even with the influx of new ideas and plans today, I strongly believe a dinner date with George Washington would guide me to remember the characteristics and stances America was founded on, something I could use to refresh my perspective on current problems as well as preventing more future ones to erupt.