Wisdom on war, peace, and governance adorning Washington, DC

I took my first trip to Washington, DC, a few weeks ago. Walking 30,000+ steps on consecutive days, I took photos of the wisdom inscribed on many of the most famous monuments…

1/ Jefferson Memorial (the Declaration of Independence):

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men. We solemnly publish and declare that these Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States; and for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honour.”

In 1776, Jefferson still using British spelling: “honour”.

And there was a school trip behind me with ~12-year-old girls singing Lin-Manuel Miranda’s, “When I meet Thomas Jefferson, I’ma compel him to include women in the sequel!”

2/ More Jefferson, 1816:

“I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions; but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed and more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”

3/ George Marshall:

“We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle our flag will be recognized throughout the world as a symbol of freedom on the one hand and of overwhelming force on the other.”

This dovetails with the Trump Doctrine, as defined by VP Vance in June: “1) Clearly define an American interest; 2) negotiate aggressively to achieve that interest; 3) use overwhelming force if necessary.”

4/ FDR, 1943:

“Unless the peace that follows recognizes that the world is one neighborhood and does justice to the whole human race, the germs of another World War will remain as a constant threat to mankind.”

5/ “Freedom is not free.” - Korean War Memorial

6/ The Washington Monument:

“After eight long years, Washington’s small force defeated the world’s strongest military. The new nation looked to Washington as a unifying figure, electing him the first President of the United States of America. Washington helped define the presidency by leaving office after two terms, setting the precedent of a peaceful transition of power.”

“When this stunning stone obelisk was completed in 1884, it was the tallest building in the world. Today the monument towers over Washington, DC, reminding us of Washington’s life and legacy.”

7/ More FDR, 1936:

“I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded… I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed… I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war.”

(The FDR Memorial, and its surrounding tranquility, might have been my favorite area of all.)

8/ Martin Luther King Jr., 1959:

“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”

9/ FDR (during the Great Depression):

“No country, however rich, can afford the waste of its human resources. Demoralization caused by vast unemployment is our greatest extravagance. Morally it is the greatest menace to our social order.”

10/ FDR (1944):

“The structure of world peace cannot be the work of one man, or one party, or one nation… It must be a peace which rests on the cooperative effort of the whole world.”

(The statue next to this is of his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt. Though it does look a tiny bit like Margaret Thatcher.)

There are many, many, many more I’ve not captured. (I could have spent an entire month walking around.) But I’ll relent at a top ten.

Well worth a trip. And those working in DC walking around often to remind themselves of these hard-won principles – etched into stone for good reason.

How fortunate we are in being a generation that’s not, personally, in the majority, had to taste or witness the gruesomeness of war.

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