Walk alongside 42 LIFE-SIZE, bronze statues of the FOUNDING FATHERS and relive the moment that launched a government ruled by “We the People.”One of our commenters finds the description of the Signers of the Constitution as "An Assembly of Demigods" a bit much. But along with Mt. Rushmore and the National Mall, The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia is unmistakably part of the American pantheon.
6 comments:
"See what the signers (and their friends at the National Constitution Center) are up to today—check out the Signers’ Hall webcam!"
That's definitely a bit over the top.
Demigod is just so Roman Imperial Emperor Cultish. I like to think that the founding fathers, pretty much all of them, would join with me in thinking it a bit too much. I think that they'd recognize that they handed us an experiment in republican government and not a divine covenant from on high.
I'd also draw a bit of a line between public memorial and celebration and a purported history presentation.
Yes, I know, I'm not much fun tonight. :(
Look up "demigod." Not gods, even with a small "g." Human too.
In fact, I'd rather call the constitutional convention an "assembly of demigods" than call GWash or any of the rest a demigod, if you can possibly follow me here.
Like Mt. Rushmore: Any one of those 4 would be idolatry, but collecting all 4 rounds it out into an American pantheon.
To walk through the statues of the Signers is awesome, but not worship.
There's an interesting sidbar in this article from
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society (NBS) archive that deals with portraying a living person on U. S. currency.
Here's a snippet -
All of this [Civil War era demagogic] nonsense finally led to an April 7, 1866 law which states: "No portrait or likeness or any living person, hereafter engraved, shall be placed upon any of the bonds,securities, notes, fractional or postal currency of the United States."
To ensure Congress got its point across, the same basic information was regurgitated in the Revised Statues of 1874. Too bad Congress left that great big loophole regarding depicting living people on our coins!"
The Founding Fathers were certainly human, but how many generations have been blessed with such a brilliant combination of wisdom, talent, and (in the case of a few like GW) immense character? We can be justly proud of our heritage as Americans. The Founders weren't "demigods," but they were heroes and they deserve our respect and our gratitude.
Again, I'll add that "demigods" are half-human, half-god, and in the Greek scheme, the gods were pretty flawed too.
You don't worship Hercules, you just go, "whoa, awesome, man." That's all.
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