Nena Arias | February 17, 2020
PRESIDENT’S DAY
“He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21)In the United States of America, we have an annual holiday that celebrates our presidents. The holiday was first established in 1800 after the death of Washington in 1799. The holiday initially only applied to the District of Columbia. It was later expanded for the whole country in 1885 to celebrate Washington’s birthday and to officially honor the life and work of George Washington, the first president of the United States. The shift into becoming President’s Day happened in the late 1960s when the emphasis of the holiday changed to commemorate all presidents of our country, past and present. The U.S. federal holiday is on the third Monday of February each year. Records show that George Washington’s birthday is on February 22.
The presidency of the United States is the highest office in our country. A position that has been highly revered and respected, not only in our country but the world over, especially since we became the most powerful nation in all of human history. Whoever occupies that office then becomes the most powerful person in the world. Ever since this high honor was first created at the formal founding of our country and our first president, George Washington came to that office, the presidency of the United States is a position of great honor, power and prestige. It takes a lot of accomplishments to arrive at that office. It is not an appointed position; the president must be duly elected by the people through our national election system.
The Founding Fathers loathed the monarchical system—a system that inherits power based on who your parents were. That was the last thing they wanted since they had experienced the abuse and oppression that a monarchy can bring. They were only too familiar with that form of government and how it can impose such hardship upon the people and how hard it is to get rid of it. They did not fight to only set themselves up for power, which is why at the end of the war, George Washington resigned his commission in the military and returned as a private citizen to his home in Mount Vernon. Because of that act of refusing to become king, George Washington became famous. He almost refused the office of President as well because he didn’t think he was qualified to lead a nation. Hindsight, there is no doubt that God had chosen this man to lead this newly formed nation in the fear of God and for the right motives.
No doubt it was George Washington who set this noble precedent for this highest office. Washington created the office and many of things we take for granted about how a president will behave were created by him such as the inaugural address, not wearing a uniform, two terms, having a cabinet, tolerance of the opposition, just to name a few. The title “Mr. President” was created by him instead of the “Your Excellency” that some of his peers encouraged him to take.
To call Washington the father of our country is no exaggeration. He, more than anyone else, deserves the title.
This is the noble tone that George Washington set for the highest office in this land, which is why it is more than tragic how some people, who have enjoyed the freedoms and privileges this country can afford, have taken it upon themselves to attack and destroy the respect that office demands simply because they despise our acting president, Donald J. Trump. I am appalled at the vitriol, venom, hatred and disrespect that is pouring out of some people who are not realizing that in doing so they are helping to destroy the entire country and stepping on the legacy of noble people who have served this nation that these haters claim to love.
Above all, I urge them to show respect to Almighty God who is the One that sets up and takes down kings. Daniel 2:2, “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.”
There are past presidents that my entire being totally rejected but I know that it is God who puts them there for a reason; to send messages to the people. The government of a people is a reflection of whom they have become.
President’s Day indeed merits our remembrance and thanksgiving for all the sacrifice and dedication of those who have given their all to preserve and defend the foundation and principles of government that gave this nation its greatness. Never forget…