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June 12, 2007
Washington’s Farewell Address Translated into Everyday Speech
Go read. Seriously. I tagged it in my del.icio.us, but it bears repeating. So. Go read it.
I think Washington was wrong when he said you can only trust someone's oath if they're religious (I know a number of atheists I trust a damn sight more than some religious folks I can think of), but everything else is spot on.
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Posted by Ealasaid at June 12, 2007 11:15 AM
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Comments
Looking back at the source, it seems that Washington's point about oaths was tangential to his main point, that religion and morality (concepts he seems to conflate) are "indespensible supports" of political prosperity.
That having been said, this attitude does rankle more than a bit. Washington's nod to and rejection of the idea that morality can be maintained without religion notwithstanding, I like to think that I, at least, don't need the carrot-and-stick of eternal reward or damnation in order to be a moral person.
Now perhaps one could argue (though I doubt this was Washington's point) that a large segment of the masses aren't so morally evolved that they can be trusted to do the right thing absent a foolproof punishment/reward system. But I only believe that in my more cynical moods.
-AS
Posted by: Alex Summers at June 13, 2007 11:16 AM
Many people see Washington as a Deist. This puts the comments of religion into a different idea. I will chalk this up to times being different. This is one of those ideas that might not translate correctly.
I heard someone say if an Agnostic wanted to run for president they should clock themself in Washington. Paint themselves as a Deist. They would be harder to attack that way.
Posted by: Rich at June 20, 2007 06:30 PM
Graphics from works 