But Where's George? Vernon Downplays Its Lead Character

Washington Post ^ | July 5, 2009 | Brigid Schulte

[La Lydia]

Just about every American, from the time they're 6 or so, learns that Mount Vernon is Founding Father George Washington's home. They draw pictures of the grand farmhouse in art class. Study it in history. File onto buses and reverently visit the hallowed ground along the Potomac River.

And right now, that's Mount Vernon's problem. There's just too much George, according to some international culture experts, who are considering whether the historic estate belongs on the United Nations' list of World Heritage sites.

A group advising the U.S. government on getting American sites onto the prestigious list initially rejected Mount Vernon because of the George factor. Now, the revised application hardly mentions George Washington. Instead, Mount Vernon proposes to become a World Heritage site -- a place of "outstanding universal value" -- because it is a preeminent example of "an evolved cultural landscape of the 18th-century American south, based on English models."

Even that might be a stretch.

"I hope people don't come away with the thought that George Washington is not good enough," said Stephen Morris, chief of the National Park Service's Office of International Affairs. "It's just that there are rules to the program, and you've got to be strategic in how you go about following them."

That George Washington was a great man in U.S. history, no one doubts. It's just that sites on the World Heritage list are supposed to transcend national borders and iconic national figures. "The list has to be representative of all periods, all times and all cultures of all humanity," says Gustavo Araoz, an American who was recently elected president of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, a group of experts who counsel UNESCO on the World Heritage list....

[La Lydia]

I am offended that the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, which owns and runs the site, would even think of this desecration. UNESCO and the World Heritage people should be asked politely to butt out. We don't need them -- they need us. I would single out Gustavo Araoz for particularly cold treatment, since he apparently has little appreciation for the role Washington played in making this country a democracy. I don't think it is a coincidence that John Ferling's book denigrating Washington was reviewed by someone named Marie Arana on the same day this appeared in the paper. I guess a part of the Post's role in dismantling our country includes the destruction and denigration of those who made this country was it was until recently.

[nickcarraway]

He’s just another DWM.

[ClearCase_guy]

This sounds annoying, but as I understand the rules, the UN is almost trying to create a list of "natural wonders". There are National Parks on the list, Mammoth Cave is on the list, Ancient ruins are on the list.

Identifying someone's home is not really what the list is about.

I was at first expecting Harriet Tubman's home on the list, and Rosa Parks' home on the list, and Martin Luther King's home on the list -- but No. I think George Washington's home deserves recognition, juts not on this particular UN list.

[americanophile]

Agreed. This is the home of the central figure of the liberal democratic movement that gave birth to America and later swept Europe and has subsequently transformed the world. Before America there were only the ancient examples of Greece and a few others. Now there are over 120 democracies - some 65% of the states in the world. If they can’t figure it out, it’s their problem. Mt. Vernon is Washington and Washington is Mt. Vernon. They can take their list and shove it.

[La Lydia]

I think this is the gist of it:

"The United States has 20 World Heritage sites, including the Grand Canyon and the Statue of Liberty, as well as Monticello, which is included not in tribute to Thomas Jefferson, but in recognition of its architecture.

"All was going swimmingly until the mid-1990s, when environmentalists feared that a gold mine just outside Yellowstone National Park, another World Heritage site, would irrevocably damage the park. UNESCO put the site on its World Heritage in Danger list, a move the Clinton administration then used to help justify shutting down the mine.

"Conservatives, property rights advocates and conspiracy theorists fearing a U.N.-led world government sounded the alarm. Though World Heritage designation is little more than ceremonial -- control of the sites remains with private land owners or governments -- Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Don Young (Alaska), introduced legislation to bar any new U.S. applications without congressional approval. ("Is Boutros Boutros-Ghali Zoning Land in Your District?" ... The United States hasn't nominated a single site since. An effort to add the historic district of Savannah, Ga., to the list faltered over a rule, unique to this country, requiring the consent of all property owners before a site is nominated. Mount Vernon and a marine sanctuary in Hawaii are the first two U.S. nominations in 15 years. So advocates wanted a sure thing."

[JRandomFreeper]

Hmmm. A rather large estate, known for it's iron square nail production and whiskey is being considered a UNESCO site.

Why bother?

/johnny

[YHAOS]

Gustavo Araoz and Stephen Morris are idiots. So are the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. I used to donate money to the Ladies Association. No more.

[Ditto]

UNESCO and the World Heritage people should be asked politely to butt out.

Why be polite?

[SunkenCiv]

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	Gods Graves Glyphs	First in war, first in peace, and dead last in the esteem of a bunch of United Nations a-holes. Just about every American, from the time they're 6 or so, learns that Mount Vernon is Founding Father George Washington's home. They draw pictures of the grand farmhouse in art class. Study it in history. File onto buses and reverently visit the hallowed ground along the Potomac River. And right now, that's Mount Vernon's problem. There's just too much George, according to some international culture experts, who are considering whether the historic estate belongs on the United Nations' list of World Heritage sites. Fornicate the UN World Heritage site list. Just a suggestion. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
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