The Ugly Truth About George Washington

George Washington, being considered the father of the United States, and the symbol of great and proud America, has a legacy that is both admired and questioned. Along with the stories of his bravery on the war front and leadership as the first US President, there is also the shadowy aspect of his life which sometimes remains unmentioned. If not for Washington's incalculable role in the creation of the country, it's equally important to highlight the multifaceted nature of his personality and decisions.

Instead of the myth оf his honesty, personified by the cherry tree anecdote, Washington's reputation for integrity includes some of his fabrications. The cherry tree story created by Mason Locke Weems, a biographer, proves to be the earliest and most significant historical embellishment. Weems, seeking to fix Washington as a model of virtue, created the tale to emphasize his integrity. However, the situation on the ground is completely different from the imaginary picture.

Washington's career in the military, usually considered as his supreme victory, however, was full of defeats and controversies. While during the War of independence he was more successful,especially during the Revolution War, at that time his behavior was very much that of a hot-headed and aggressive soldier. He harshly treats the natives of America and participates in the massacre of them which degrades him as a brave leader.

No less importantly, the fact that Washington was a slaveholder also creates an obstacle in glorifying his legacy. Similar to many of his like-minded people, he was a slave owner and contributed to the perpetuation of the slavery institution. Although he publically showed his anti-slavery sentiments later in life, his actions were miles away from those words. Washington's hunt for escaped slaves like Ona Judge is a manifestation that he was a man who, under the assumption of freedom for all, his real contribution was in the enslavement of others.

Besides, the fable of Washington’s wooden dentures is also another factual error rose due to the complexity of the real deal of slavery and siphon the truth. Indeed, he dressed those dentures with those human teeth even. Frequently, the public will fail to recognize that the reality may be much less appealing. The value of teeth that George Washington paid for enslaved people indicates that in slavery, the most dangerous thing was the commodification of human bodies.

Still after his death, the legacies he built continue to perceive the flaws as if he was an imperfect person. Although the so-called will of this man where freedom is promised to his slaves, it was however deceptive as the case in real life is. The most of the blacks were kept as slaves showing his kindly and conditional aspect.

George Washington became a symbol of the idea that historical truth is not e black and white story but rather has a spectrum of ambiguities and grey areas instead. While he made a great impact on the nation in his time, not only his actions and choices, were always respectable. As we celebrate his successes, we have to be ready to face the discomfort, and search for true history rather than flat, straightforward illustration. We can though confront the complexities of our history alone but it is only by understanding it comprehensively the existence of many angles, when we can move efficiently towards a better future with animosity and showing true compassion.

To put it in a nutshell, George Washington was some combination of gallantry and contentions. While both Washington along with other founding fathers are believed to be the pillars of the foundation of an American state and an embodiment of American values, his actions and behavior is being hidden most of the time. His view from two sides of the proverbial coin regarding slavery and his strict military programs illuminate the complexity and ambiguity of the past. This can allow us to see the past in more accurate and more realistic way and keep working on building the just and equal society.