In Washington , D.C. there can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument. On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., are displayed two words: Laus Deo.
No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldn’t care less.
These words have been there for many years: they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of the United States of America, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District
of Columbia, capital of the U.S.A.
“Laus Deo” - two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world.
Those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters, mean, “Praise be to God!”
Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of the United States, it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap
the memorial.
From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments. From that vantage point, one can also see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l’Enfant. A perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north. The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west.
Why a cross? What about separation of church and state? Yes, a cross - separation of church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution.
Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message:
On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore;
On the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians;
On the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise be to God!
When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848, deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of a unique democracy: “One Nation, Under God.”
Here is Washington’s prayer for America:
“Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose e example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
You may forget the width and height of “Laus Deo”, its location, or the architects - but no one who reads this will forget its meaning, or the words: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
Laus Deo!
Be the chief but never the lord. - Lao Tzu
The gun is not out of Irish politics. - Ian Paisley
Man is not free unless government is limited. - Ronald Reagan
English Wrestling Champion: A lord of the ring - Daffynitions joe-ks.com
Politics is just show business for ugly people. - Jay Leno
I never saw anything funnier than Texas politics. - Molly Ivins
I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons. - Will Rogers
Most bad government results from too much government. - Thomas Jefferson
Self-government won't work without self-discipline. - Paul Harvey
Poetry is about the grief. Politics is about the grievance. - Robert Frost
A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves. - Bertrand de Jouvenel
It's a terrible shame that politics has become show business. - Sydney Pollack
Take the diplomacy out of war and the thing would fall flat in a week. - Will Rogers
Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed. - Mao Zedong
Politics is the chloroform of the Irish people, or, rather the hashish. - Oliver St. John Gogarty
In politics, madame, you need two things: friends, but above all an enemy. - Brian Mulroney
Idealism is the despot of thought, just as politics is the despot of will. - Mikhail Bakunin
No science is immune to the infection of politics and the corruption of power. - Jacob Bronowski
American Politics: A form of socialism for the rich, including the politicians. - Gregory Nunn
My sheer existence is like a political act to a lot of people. It's not to me. - Grimes
The secret of political bargaining is to look more strong than what you really are. - Subhash Bose
I love Canada. I am from Canada. I will bash the Canadian government but never Canada. - Jason Priestley
O beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on. - William Shakespeare
A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them. - P.J. O'Rourke
Good thing we've still got politics in Texas - finest form of free entertainment ever invented. - Molly Ivins
The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence, because it's so rare. - Daniel P Moynihan
Politics, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong. - Richard Armour
I don't look for much to come out of government ownership as long as we have Democrats and Republicans. - Kin Hubbard
Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. - Frederic Bastiat
One of the key problems today is that politics is such a disgrace, good people don't go into government. - Donald Trump
Our whole constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men's minds. - Thurgood Marshall
Trust God for the impossible - miracles are His department. Our job is to do our best, letting the Lord do the rest. - David Jeremiah
I thank the Lord I no longer have to go to work. I just get out of bed in the morning, and there it is - all around me. - Unknown
“But it doesn't take a thousand men to open a door, my lord."
"It might to keep it open.” - Ursula K. Le Guin
Very few of these panic-mongers have any personal knowledge of the countries that are already under blackshirt government. - Lord Rothermere
Every country must be absolutely free to adopt the type of economic, political and social system that it considers convenient. - Fidel Castro
The nine most terrifying words in the English language are,
"I'm from the government and I'm here to help." - Ronald Reagan
In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other. - Voltaire
Politicians also have no leisure, because they are always aiming at something beyond political life itself, power and glory, or happiness. - Aristotle
see also Government & Religious Sections
 Please Help My Car |  Adultery |  2021 Hooters Owl and Birds of Prey Calendars |  Moses' USB Tablets |  Virus Update |
 Carnations vs. Roses |  Waterproof Notepad |  Sudoku Cats |  Harlie's Angel |  Ladder Load |
 Road To Nowhere |  Bartender Mechanic |  Promote Yourself |  Noteable Bartender |  Microsoft Innovation |
 Complaint Jar |  First Selfie |  Leave My Drink Alone |  Great Scott! |  Golden End of the Rainbow |
11-Apr-2021 |