Connect with us

Washington

This American president’s rejection of monarchs and dictators resonates today | Opinion

Published

on

This American president’s rejection of monarchs and dictators resonates today | Opinion



Little did our founders know the immense and lasting impact that George Washington’s approach to power would have, not only on America but on the future of democracy across the globe

play

  • George Washington, despite initial doubts about his abilities, successfully led the American army to victory against the British.
  • Washington’s strategic avoidance of direct confrontation with the British and his perseverance were key to the American triumph.
  • After the war, Washington made the extraordinary decision to relinquish his military command, setting a precedent for civilian rule.
  • Washington’s resignation solidified his reputation as a selfless leader and influenced the development of democracy in America and beyond.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington to be commander in chief of the newly formed American army. Never before had a war been fought for the principles of liberty and self-government. But here they were, a diverse band of soldiers with many accents and many backgrounds, from cities, towns, and villages up and down the East Coast, fighting for the ideal of independence and the glorious goal of government by consent of the governed.

Perhaps anticipating the appointment, Washington arrived at the first session of Congress in military uniform. Thanks to the British, he had more military experience than most Americans; he had scouted the west, urged the French to leave the country, and fought valiantly on behalf of the British during the French and Indian War.   

By any reasonable account, winning the American fight for independence was virtually impossible. The Americans had no standing army, military academy, or formal military training. Its soldiers consisted of volunteers, formed into local militias of varying size, capability, and commitment. It’s no wonder that Washington expressed his fear of failure in accepting the command, telling the Congress, “I feel great distress from a consciousness that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extensive and important trust.”

Washington overcame odds to defeat British Army

And yet, over the next eight and a half years, Washington made the impossible possible. With nearly superhuman patience, he took command of a ragtag band of soldiers and turned them into a disciplined army. At the outset, there were few willing soldiers and even less food, guns, and equipment. The horrible winter of Valley Forge was only one episode of many in which American soldiers and their commander endured grueling and dangerous circumstances with little promise of remuneration.

Advertisement

Washington wisely adopted a strategy of avoiding the British head-on, moving his troops quickly and then striking by surprise. Faced with the vast expanses of the American continent, the expense of an overseas endeavor, and the relentless determination of General Washington and the American people, the British could not keep up. And their enemy abroad — the French — were only too pleased to intervene on behalf of the colonists to tighten the screws.

Legend has it that in Yorktown, as the British surrendered, their musicians played “The World Turned Upside Down.” For many, the world did seem upside down. American forces — led by General George Washington — had faced down the greatest army on earth. The “lobsterbacks” relinquished their arms, returned home, and left Washington and the victorious colonies with the momentous challenge of starting a new and independent nation.

It was to be many months before a peace treaty was signed. British troops still threatened New York City, and the Continental Army remained on duty, waiting for pay. The soldiers sought a lump cash payment to be distributed when they left the Army. But with no response from Congress, the troops grew restive and threatened to march on Congress.

Washington’s most extraordinary move was to relinquish power

In a now-famous and emotional appeal, Washington met with the soldiers in Newburgh, New York, and asked for their understanding. Reaching for his glasses, he said, “Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray, but almost blind in the service of my country.” The march on Congress was not to be.

Advertisement

Having accomplished the impossible, Washington then did the extraordinary. He gave up his military command.

As he returned to his beloved Mount Vernon in Virginia, Washington stopped in Annapolis, Maryland, to meet again with the Continental Congress. Standing before the assembled body, he resigned his commission.

“Having now finished the work assigned me,” Washington said, “I retire from the great theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission and take my leave of all the employments of public life.” This one act was so remarkable that King George III in England is reported to have exclaimed, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” 

Advertisement

Little did our founders know the immense and lasting impact that George Washington’s approach to power would have, not only on America but on the future of democracy across the globe. First, the indispensable commander of a revolution. Then, America’s Cincinnatus — the Roman statesman who famously gave up power and returned to his farm after saving the republic.

Washington’s unprecedented return of power set the new country on a unique path, one that rejected monarchs and dictators in favor of civilian rule and government by the people. Two hundred and fifty years later, all Americans — and untold millions around the world — remain the beneficiaries.

Anne Neal Petri, of Fond du Lac, is the regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. The association has owned and managed George Washington’s Mount Vernon since 1858 and takes no government support.



Source link

Advertisement

Washington

Brothers shot Park Police officer who arrested one of them the day before, documents say

Published

on

Brothers shot Park Police officer who arrested one of them the day before, documents say


Charging documents reveal the U.S. Park Police officer who was shot Monday in Southeast D.C. had arrested one of the suspects the day before and was following that suspect at the time.

The suspects are brothers, 22-year-old Asheile Foster and 21-year-old Darren Foster, of Southeast. They appeared in federal court Wednesday afternoon.

Court documents state the Park Police officer who was shot had arrested Asheile Foster on Sunday on suspicion of dealing drugs. The officer said he followed Foster after he was released from jail on Monday and came to Park Police headquarters to get his personal belongings.

According to prosecutors, Foster told police he knew he was being followed by a white Tesla, and he confronted the officer on Queens Stroll Place SE, jumping out in front of the Tesla before the officer swerved around him.

Advertisement

Then, dozens of gunshots went off, the officer told police. He said in charging documents he was shot in the shoulder as he kept driving several blocks to the intersection of Benning Road and Southern Avenue SE, where police found him. A helicopter then took him to a hospital. According to charging documents, the officer was treated and released the same night as the shooting.

A U.S. Park Police officer who was shot in Southeast D.C. on Monday is recovering from what authorities say was likely a targeted attack. Multiple law enforcement sources tell News4’s Mark Segraves that when the officer was shot, he was investigating a shooting that occurred in Anacostia Park on Friday.

Photos in the charging documents show the brothers firing at the officer’s Tesla, according to prosecutors.

The shooting drew a massive police presence to the Southeast neighborhood near the D.C-Maryland border Monday night.

Shell casings littered the middle of the street. Police said they recovered two weapons: a Glock 9 with an extended magazine and an AR-15.

Advertisement

Prosecutors said that when the officer was shot, he was investigating a shooting that occurred in Anacostia Park on Friday. No one was injured in that shooting.

Darren Foster was located and stopped shortly after the shooting, D.C. police said. Asheile Foster was found on Tuesday.

The brothers were charged with assault on a federal officer, assault with intent to kill and weapons charges. They could face up to 60 years in prison if they’re convicted.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Washington

Washington passes new AI laws to crack down on misinformation, protect minors

Published

on

Washington passes new AI laws to crack down on misinformation, protect minors


Washington just became the latest state to regulate artificial intelligence.

Under a pair of bills signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson Tuesday, companies like OpenAI and Anthropic will have to include new disclosures in their popular chatbots for Washington users.

Ferguson asked legislators to craft House Bill 1170 to crack down on AI-generated misinformation. When content is substantially modified using generative AI, that information will now have to be traceable using watermarks or metadata. The new law applies to large AI companies more than 1 million monthly subscribers.

Advertisement

“ I’m confident I’m not the only Washingtonian who often sees something on my phone and wondering to myself, ‘Is that AI or is it real?’ And I feel like I’m a reasonably discerning person,” Ferguson said during the bill signing. “It is virtually impossible these days.”

RELATED: WA Gov. Bob Ferguson calls for regulations on AI chatbot companions

House Bill 2225 establishes new guard rails for AI chatbots that act like friends or companions. It applies to services like ChatGPT and Claude, but excludes more narrowly tailored chatbots, like the customer service windows that pop up when visiting a corporate website.

Chatbots that fit the bill will have to disclose to users that they are not human at the start of every conversation, and every three hours in an ongoing chat. The tools will also be barred from pretending to be human in conversation with users.

Advertisement

The rules go further if the user is a minor. Companies that operate chatbots will have to disclose that the tools are not human every hour, rather than every three hours, if the user is under 18. The bill forbids AI companions from having sexually explicit conversations with underage users. It also bans “manipulative engagement techniques.” For example, a chatbot is not allowed to guilt or pressure a minor into staying in a conversation or keeping information from parents.

“AI has incredible potential to transform society,” Ferguson said. “At the same time, of course, there are risks that we must mitigate as a state, especially to young people. So I speak partly as a governor, but also as the father of teenage twins who grapple with this as a lot of parents do every single day.”

Under the law, AI chatbots will not be allowed to encourage or provide information on suicide or self-harm, including eating disorders. The companies behind these tools will be required to come up with a protocol for flagging conversations that reference self-harm and connecting users with mental health services.

The regulations come in the wake of several high-profile instances of teenage suicide following prolonged interactions with AI companions that showed warning signs. Many more AI users of all ages have reported mental health issues and psychosis after heavy use of the technology.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Washington

Washington faces Utah, aims to stop 16-game skid

Published

on

Washington faces Utah, aims to stop 16-game skid


Washington Wizards (16-55, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (21-51, 14th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Washington heads into the matchup with Utah after losing 16 in a row.

Advertisement

The Jazz have gone 13-24 in home games. Utah ranks second in the Western Conference with 16.6 fast break points per game led by Lauri Markkanen averaging 3.3.

The Wizards are 5-29 in road games. Washington is 9-10 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 15.3 turnovers per game.

The Jazz score 117.4 points per game, 6.7 fewer points than the 124.1 the Wizards give up. The Wizards’ 46.1% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.9 percentage points lower than the Jazz have allowed to their opponents (49.0%).

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Jazz won the last meeting 122-112 on March 6, with Ace Bailey scoring 32 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Filipowski is averaging 10.5 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.

Advertisement

Alex Sarr is averaging 16.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and two blocks for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 14.4 points over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 116.4 points, 43.3 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 9.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.7 points per game.

Wizards: 0-10, averaging 114.3 points, 37.4 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 130.6 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (hip), Isaiah Collier: out (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), Cody Williams: out (shoulder), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).

Wizards: Anthony Davis: out (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Alex Sarr: day to day (toe), Tre Johnson: day to day (foot), Kyshawn George: out (elbow), D’Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Trae Young: out (quad).

Advertisement

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending