Ramblings of a History Major....
I was thinking about Abraham Lincoln today. Now I know that many of you might wonder why in the world I would be thinking about Lincoln. Well, that's easy. History majors always think about people they would love to have met but will never get the chance. And Lincoln is right near the top of my list. If there is one event that in my mind most defines who and what he was, that would be when he delivered the Gettysburg address. I love reading it and never fail to be moved by it.
What you may not know is that Lincoln was not even the featured speaker that day. The keynoter was Edward Everett, a politician from Massachusetts, and he spoke for two hours or more (13,000+ words!) before it was Lincoln's turn to offer the dedication of the graveyard. Can you imagine, the President of the United States playing second fiddle to another speaker. Bet that wouldn't happen today!
Take a moment or two and read what Lincoln had to say that day. It's only 10 or so sentences and took him just about 2 minutes to deliver on that day in November. Then when you have finished reading it, take a few minutes and think about how we can apply this to ourselves.
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
"Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate...we can not consecrate...we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Isn't that wonderful! We are now ten score and four years from when that new nation was brought forth, and Lincoln's call to action is as imperative today as it was when he spoke these words. I'm not sure I've ever read anything quite so eloquent. His words speak to us today, and we must make sure not to let those who have given their lives that we might enjoy the freedoms we do to have done so in vain. We must remember all who "gave the last full measure of devotion" on our behalf, and ensure that we too "resolve" that this government shall never perish. May we also "be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced." And may our God always bless America.
2 comments:
I never tire of reading Lincoln's address, nor his proclamation about Thanksgiving Day. He always reminds me that greatness lies beneath our human flaws.
I love that you wrote of the patriotism that I know lies deep and broad within your soul.
I don't know what I love more- your posts and thoughts or the dialogue that you and mother seem to be having through blogging.
It is a delight to read.
Something always stirs in me too when I read the Gettysburg Address. It is powerful for sure and Gettysburg is high on my list of places to visit. Thanks for giving me a reason to reread it.
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