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| Dear Friend, |
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| George Washington is remembered for many things: he was our first
President, is often referred to as “the Father of our Country,” and
famously crossed the Delaware River with his troops during the war for
independence. |
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| Washington also gave perhaps the most famous of all presidentialf
farewell addresses in 1796, after serving two terms as Chief
Executive. |
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| Here are a few things he said… |
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- The Unity of Government, which makes
us one people, is the main pillar of our real independence.
- The name American, which belongs to you and I, must exalt the just
pride of Patriotism. With slight shades of difference, we
have the same religion, manners, habits and political principles. We
have a common cause…Independence and Liberty.
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| Washington reminded his fellow countrymen that the Unity we held
was sacred, and it was born of the common idea of Liberty. He called
upon all of us to remember our purpose. |
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| I agree: we must remember that
which unites us is bigger than that which divides us. |
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| Washington also warned us about our own military. He admonished us
to, “avoid the necessity of …overgrown military
establishments,” which can “be regarded as particularly
hostile to Republican Liberty.”
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| I agree: we must hold the Military
Industrial Complex and its contractors accountable for violations of
our liberty and violations against our Constitution. |
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| He also warned that, “a passionate attachment of one Nation
for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite
Nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest, in
cases where no real common interest exists” and can lead us into “a
participation in the quarrels and wars..without adequate inducement or
justification.”
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| I agree: and it’s one reason why I
am the only candidate who seeks to bring our troops home and end US
military involvement overseas where our interests are not at
stake. |
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| Washington’s 6,000+ word Farewell Address was prophetic. |
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| Today it serves as a clarion call to avoid foreign wars, to be
sober about the rise of our own military establishment, and to
remember why we are called the “United” States of America in the first
place. |
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| His warnings and his encouragement 228 years ago resonate with me
personally, and with our top campaign goals. |
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| It is my aspiration to be a President who prioritizes you and all
of the American people–our history, our liberty, our unity and our
future. |
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| Sincerely, |
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| Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. |
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| Declare Your
Independence |
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