Crossing the Delaware

black_hound posted the news that the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has been forced to consider closing some of its historic sites including Washington Crossing.
I thought at once of the famous painting of Washington crossing the Delaware. Every American schoolchild has seen this painting, and I still remember thinking OMG, George! Sit down! You are going to tip the boat!. Though he dominates the scene, he isn't the only person in the painting; there are people of different races and stations in life in the little boat. An African-American is sitting opposite a Scotsman, some of the rowers are in uniform but others are dressed as farmers or tradesmen. I wouldn't say that everyone is rowing together because the effort doesn't look that organized, but at least they are pulling for the common goal of the far shore. It's a marvelous old painting, but it is still a painting and a work of fiction. George is surrounded by a halo of light, but that was added by the painter's imagination, for they crossed the river in the evening under an overcast sky. It must have been so dark that you could hardly see a path through the ice, let alone see the far shore, but Washington's men kept on rowing. I envy them their faith. It was a risky, weary venture to cross the flooded river at night, and once they reached the other side, these farmers and tradesmen would have to fight a battle with an army of mercenaries. Nothing was certain, but they kept on rowing, and this was the turning point in the war for independence.
Now it seems that we are again rowing in the dark, uncertain of the future. I can't think of a worse time to close the park at Washington Crossing.