George Washington's Charisma (喬治 華盛頓的人格魅力）

Based on Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius' 的The Turning Point of Modern History，Chapter 9

https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/turning-points-in-modern-history （Can be borrowed via Libby;可在圖書館Libby借到）

George Washington‘s Charisma（喬治·華盛頓的人格魅力）

On March 15, 1783 the officers under George Washington's command met to discuss a petition that called for them to an open rebellion due to Congress' failure to provide them back pay and pensions for their service during the American Revolution. George Washington addressed the officers with a nine-page speech that sympathized with their demands but denounced their methods by which they proposed to achieve them.

(Soldiers in American Revolution; Source: Library of Congress.)

After reading the first paragraph, Washington reached for his glasses in his pocket. Washington was very self conscicous about his image in front of the public. Even thought he needed glasses, he typically does not wear it in the public. So the public were unaware of his eyesight issue.

He said, "Gentlemen, you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in service to my country." 

Shocked and deeply moved by these words, his former officers laid down their arms and sought alternative solutions.

Such is an example of George Washington's leading by example.

ChatGpt譯：

1783年3月15日，處於喬治·華盛頓指揮下的軍官們聚集在一起，討論了一份請願書，要求他們因為國會未能支付他們在美國革命期間的工資和退休金而采取公開反叛行動。喬治·華盛頓用一篇九頁的演講向軍官們表達了同情之情，但譴責了他們提出的用以實現這些要求的方法。

在閱讀完第一段後，華盛頓伸手到口袋裏拿出了他的眼鏡。華盛頓非常在乎他在公眾麵前的形象。盡管他需要眼鏡，但他通常不在公眾麵前戴它，因此公眾不知道他的視力問題。

他說：“先生們，請原諒我（作者注：停頓下來戴眼鏡），因為為了我的國家，我不僅頭發已經花白，而且幾乎失明了。”
("Gentlemen, you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in service to my country.")

被這些話震驚和深受感動，他的前軍官們放下了武器，尋求了替代解決方案。

這就是喬治·華盛頓以身作則的一個例子。