WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
PATER PATRIÆ by H. L. Mencken
byVanderleunonMay 16, 2021
PATER PATRIÆ
If George Washington were alive today, what a shining mark he would be for the whole camorra of uplifters, forward-lookers, and professional patriots! He was the Rockefeller of his time, the richest man in the United States, a promoter of stock companies, a land-grabber, an exploiter of mines and timber. He was a bitter opponent of foreign alliances and denounced their evils in harsh, specific terms. He had a liking for all forthright and pugnacious men, and a contempt for lawyers, schoolmasters, and all other such obscurantists. He was not pious. He drank whisky whenever he felt chilly and kept a jug of it handy. He knew far more profanity than Scripture and used and enjoyed it more.
He had no belief in the infallible wisdom of the common people, but regarded them as inflammatory dolts, and tried to save the republic from them. He advocated no sure cure for all the sorrows of the world and doubted that such a panacea existed. He took no interest in the private morals of his neighbors.
Inhabiting These States today, George would be ineligible for any office of honor or profit.
The Senate would never dare confirm him; the President would not think of nominating him. He would be on trial in all the yellow journals for belonging to the Invisible Government, the Hell Hounds of Plutocracy, the Money Power, the Interests. The Sherman Act would have him in its toils; he would be under indictment by every grand jury south of the Potomac; the triumphant prohibitionists of his native state would be denouncing him (he had a still at Mount Vernon) as a debaucher of youth, a recruiting officer for insane asylums, a poisoner of the home. The suffragettes would be on his trail, with sentinels posted all along the Accotink road. The initiators and referendors would be bawling for his blood. The young college men of the Nation and the New Republic would be lecturing him weekly. He would be used to scare children in Kansas and Arkansas. The chautauquas would shiver whenever his name was mentioned…
And what a chance there would be for that ambitious young district attorney who thought to shadow him on his peregrinations—and grab him under the Mann Act!
And he’d be punching bayonet holes all the way through flabby, flapping faces left and right.
Immediately you’d see millions of men with stones fall in behind him. A signal would go out, “Bring It MF!”
JackMay 16, 2021, 8:45 AM
He was around back in the day when men were men and he was the model for what America was designed to be. And I would join him.
Kevin in PAMay 16, 2021, 9:10 AM
I’m with you fellers.
George Washington is an American hero no matter what the whinging Marxist squealers say.
To expound on Jack’s point – Washington lived in a time when men were men and women were women and anyone could tell the difference.
I like this report on Washington much better. Damn, I’d love to make my state (Washington) reflect the character of the original George.
gwbnycMay 16, 2021, 12:34 PM
from David McCullough’s book on John Adams, I paraphrase-
Adams is sent to France representing the new America, he has brought his son, 12 years old, with him. Adams will be hanged if captured. a sail of a british ship is sighted, the captain orders the crew at readiness, and requires Adams to go below deck. as the crew gets about their duties the captain turns and sees Adams standing on deck with a musket. rightly concerned the captain asks him why he is not below as requested. Adams, a more than middleaged man, replies, “ I thought I would take my part in the fighting.” as it was the action developed no further.
later in the voyage a gun was dismounted crushing a sailor’s arm, which was then judged to be amputated. Adams’ son, at 12 years old, assisted in the amputation by holding the man steady while it took place.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
PATER PATRIÆ
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
YAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY, GEORGE!!!!111!!!!!
And he’d be punching bayonet holes all the way through flabby, flapping faces left and right.
Immediately you’d see millions of men with stones fall in behind him. A signal would go out, “Bring It MF!”
He was around back in the day when men were men and he was the model for what America was designed to be. And I would join him.
I’m with you fellers.
George Washington is an American hero no matter what the whinging Marxist squealers say.
To expound on Jack’s point – Washington lived in a time when men were men and women were women and anyone could tell the difference.
Jeez, Ol’ George makes Trump look like a sissy.
I apologize for the source, but the photograph is memorable.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/george-washington-modern-portrait.html
I like this report on Washington much better. Damn, I’d love to make my state (Washington) reflect the character of the original George.
from David McCullough’s book on John Adams, I paraphrase-
Adams is sent to France representing the new America, he has brought his son, 12 years old, with him. Adams will be hanged if captured. a sail of a british ship is sighted, the captain orders the crew at readiness, and requires Adams to go below deck. as the crew gets about their duties the captain turns and sees Adams standing on deck with a musket. rightly concerned the captain asks him why he is not below as requested. Adams, a more than middleaged man, replies, “ I thought I would take my part in the fighting.” as it was the action developed no further.
later in the voyage a gun was dismounted crushing a sailor’s arm, which was then judged to be amputated. Adams’ son, at 12 years old, assisted in the amputation by holding the man steady while it took place.
in our history this is a footnote.