From Unabashedly American:
Wills and the Gettysburg Cemetery Commission had originally chosen October 23, 1863 as the date for the cemetery’s dedication, but relented and postponed it until November 19th at the request of their chosen pick as the main speaker at the event, Edward Everett, whom was a former senator, secretary of state, and president of Harvard College. Everett was a noted orator in the day and asked for the delay in order that he be given more time to prepare his speech. Everett ended up speaking for two hours at the dedication.
On November 2nd, which was only a little more than two weeks before the event, Mr. Wills also decided to invite President Lincoln to attend and “formally [to] set apart these grounds to their sacred use by a few appropriate remarks.” President Lincoln accepted the invitation and was met by a crowd of 15,000 people whom were there for the dedication. President Lincoln’s famous address took only two minutes to deliver.
The day after the dedication, Edward Everett wrote to Lincoln, “Permit me also to express my great admiration of the thoughts expressed by you, with such eloquent simplicity & appropriateness, at the consecration of the Cemetery. I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes.”
The white slave owners of the time were always quick to point out that nowhere within the United States Constitution did it prohibit slavery. President Lincoln, however, took what was a more radical approach at the time and referred to our nation’s founding document which stated that “all men are created equal.” He again stated this sentiment in his magnificent address. President Lincoln saw the Civil War as a gargantuan struggle for “a new birth of freedom”. No longer was the nation to be dominated simply by state’s rights, but rather he saw the need for a unified nation that provided and protected the equality of all men as he defined our democratic republic in the terms of “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
President Lincoln hoped to properly honor the dead that fought to preserve the Union by fighting for the equality of all under the law. He was hopeful that this great battle, as General Lee retreated with his Army back to Virginia, was the turning point in the war. After this point, the South would not win another major battle and never again would go on the offensive into Union territory.
If only we had a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
What would President Lincoln have said about “corporate personhood”?
Does anybody believe Honest Abe would fall for the lies and racism of Donald Trump? Does anyone believe Lincoln would belong to the party of the Southern Strategy and minority vote suppression?
Would Lincoln side with the racist birther who wouldn’t rent to Blacks and demanded the execution of exonerated Black youths?
If only we had another Lincoln. He would be Democrat today. So would Eisenhower. This is why so many former Republicans of conscience are voting for Biden.
Cannot.
Stop.
Laughing.
I swear, if I wrote an article about ice cream, Mr. Dubya would find a way to make it about Donald Trump’s “racist” disregard for vanilla in favor of rocky road.
One could suppose if my remarks are so entertaining to Darrell, he would allow them at his blog. He prefers to quote bits out of context and analyze them for us. Maybe I’m not that funny after all, if he needs to dissect and explain the humor?
Maybe a fair and honest contrast between Lincoln and the Republicans of today was funny because it went over Darrell’s head?
“Ha, ha! Dave thinks Lincoln did more for Blacks than Trump!”
That’s our boy!
In case he missed it, I’ll put it this way. Lincoln and Trump will be viewed by history as complete opposites. Because they ARE opposites. Guess which one defends Confederate flags at his rallies, statues of treasonous slavers, and US Army bases named after traitors who killed thousands of US soldiers? The last Confederate President.
I seriously think most people who cannot see, or refuse to see, the racism in Trump and his Cartel share the same quality. It amazes me how a pathological liar and racist sociopath like Trump is excused by these people.
I’ve informed Darrell about Trump’s longtime advisor and criminal friend Roger Stone, flashing the white power hand signal with Proud Boys. It’s no surprise he runs from that fact like a Trump crony from a lawful Congressional subpoena. (Darrell thinks Trump is following the Constitution.) Perhaps Darrell, or someone close to him, is one of those Proud Boys. Who would be surprised?
But our lesson here is simple. White conservatives, not Blacks, are the real judges of what constitutes racism.
So naturally, Darrell says Biden is the REAL criminal and racist. After all, white conservatives like Darrell know more about racism than Black people, including the Black President. And if the Trump Cartel says Biden is a crook, who can question their honesty, or argue with their projection?
Of course there is a reasonable and even scientific explanation behind their loyalty to such a hateful, criminal and ignorant bigot.
And there is nothing funny about it at all.
We all know the President is more of an orange sherbert fan, come on.
I’d have to concede and accept, in fair consideration, Trump’s word on the “best chocolate cake” at Mar al ago.
Orange sherbert! Now THAT is funny, Trey! 😉