Fri Sep 20 2024

A Long Way From Washington

Dear Friends,

With 45 days left until the U.S. presidential election, it’s become clear to all with eyes to see that we are very far from the mind of George Washington.

Americans in 1789 got a philosophico-poetic man of words and deeds. We get anti-social madness. Oh, sorry, “social media.”

When was the last time you read Washington’s first inaugural address? It contains dense, philosophically-robust gems like this (sorry, not sorry for the semi-long quote):

“I dwell on this prospect [that he will serve in a non-partisan way and based on ‘pure and immutable principles’] with every satisfaction which an ardent love for my country can inspire, since there is no truth more thoroughly established than that there exists in the economy and course of nature an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and advantage; between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity; since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained; and since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered, perhaps, as deeply, as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.” 

Read that again: “…Since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered to be staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”

This month, some citizens in Ocean Grove are choosing to display their personal choice of presidential candidate on their houses — in the form of flags or posters or even banners spread across their noble Victorian porches — while others are wearing political hats on their morning walks to Odyssey, and even others are permanently adhering their stance to their car’s bumper with a sticker. 

Incidentally, do you remember the hilarious bumper sticker from 2020’s election:

Giant Meteor

End it already!

Of course how many silent citizens are there in Ocean Grove? Citizens keeping their thoughts to themselves? Or citizens afraid to speak: the ratio of democratic to republican porch merch is — and this is highly imprecise since I haven’t actually counted — about 100:1. Actually, I’ve only seen one rep merch.

Indeed, everyone quietly knows that it is all but taboo for folks who want to maintain a reputation for thoughtfulness that it would destroy such an appearance of intellectual respectability to show support for one of the candidates, the one who already served a full term in office. Those folks are choosing to remain inconspicuous in our town.

What is conspicuous is that even some businesses in the area are publicly supporting one or another candidate. Fascinating because, for one thing, a business doesn’t get to vote, only humans do. For another, what is the purpose of a business, if not to earn profits for its owners by doing good for its customers?

Perhaps the good that some businesses aim to do for their customers is to recommend a presidential candidate? What knowledge does the business possess in order to offer such advice?

At Odyssey we do things differently: we’re resolutely nonpartisan, and that’s because we see something. We see an America where business owners are inspired by timeless wisdom, and where coffeehouses are politically-neutral refuges for thinking your own thoughts. We’re not the kind of place to tell you what to think. We are the thinking space. 

Likewise, we don’t give you flags and fliers and banners, and definitely not newspapers and social media (gag me). We give you coffee — and philosophy (because it yields that timeless wisdom we’re after).

With 45 days left to do the citizen thing, what if today you launched your own philosophical quest to get back to basics? To get to the bottom of things. To discover the first principles that universally apply to all particulars. To try to understand things like what is a republican model of government and what is the ideal image of its president?

It’s based on these ideals that we make decisions.

Try this: Read the Declaration of Independence in its entirety in one sitting. It’ll start to give you an understanding of the ideas at the heart of America. Then take a short walk down to the pier and back.

Then read Article II of the U.S. Constitution, twice, in one sitting.

Don’t read about these things. Read the actual things.

Then two more: George Washington’s first inaugural address (which I quoted above), and Thomas Jefferson’s (of 1801). Jefferson’s especially will aid us in our philosophical quest for first principles. 

How? Because in his speech he has a section where he lists what he calls “the essential principles of our Government”!

Sorry, not sorry for another semi-long quote. It’s too beautiful to resist. And then we’ll wrap things up:

“About to enter, fellow-citizens, on the exercise of the duties which comprehend everything dear and valuable to you, it is proper you should understand what I deem the essential principles of our Government, and consequently those which ought to shape its Administration. I will compress them within the narrowest compass they bear, stating the general principle, but not all its limitations. Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political…a jealous care of the right of election by the people…absolute acquiescence in the decisions of the majority, the vital principle of republics, from which there is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism…the honest payment of our debts…freedom of religion; freedom of the press, and freedom of the person under the protection of habeas corpus, and trial by juries impartially selected…They should be the creed of our political faith, the text of civic instruction, the touchstone by which to try the services of those we trust; and should we wander from them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety.”

Around here we’re hastening to retrace our steps and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety by curating a coffeehouse for thinkers in a refuge by the sea. The kind of place where you can think your thoughts, pray your prayers, and be.

To that end we work,

Joey