The Man Who Arrived Before the Party by Rohith

The Man Who Arrived Before the Party by Rohith - October 2017 Scholarship Essay

An unoriginal answer may seem to be the most logical choice considering this man is the reason America exists. George Washington’s stature and historical depiction is well-deserved for the work he has done to establish the Union. His leadership and efforts made prior to the founding of the United States serves as the cornerstone of many values still carried on today in our country.

I would like to admit that my decision to choose him as someone I would like to have dinner with comes with an ulterior motive. Rather than getting an opportunity to simply have a conversation about his life, I truly feel that any time spent should be directed at what is best to serve the country. While trying to stay apolitical in my views, I would like to make it clear that I feel our country is at a point of division controlled by extremists on both ends of the political spectrum. I have always felt that the U.S. is a country of moderation and can only be led by the strength of balance.

George Washington is the only president I have felt who has demonstrated the principles of putting his country beyond his own personal gain. Rather, he preserved the executive branch as simply carrying out decisions of legislation, not a leader who carries his/her own agenda. The whole basis of political party candidates is flawed for this purpose: one votes for a leader who will carry out policy that favors one’s own political views. The role of the president is not to carry out his own agenda, but to simply enforce the policies of Congress. Whether it was founding the first national bank or global militaristic decisions, Washington prided himself on not carrying out his own agenda. He simply served the decision of elected representatives.

When reflecting on the legacy of George Washington, I often wonder what he would think about our country today. Besides the realization of the state of technology and social norms, I find he would be disappointed in our level of division. His final words against partisanship would greatly be the biggest tragedy being witnessed. That being said, I cannot help but feel that his wisdom and direction could greatly steer this country back to a direction of integration and unity.