#855 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Monday February 12)
Good morning,
CELEBRATING LINCOLN’S WISDOM ON HIS BIRTHDAY
What better way to celebrate the great Abraham Lincoln than this prescient excerpt from his speech to the Young Men’s Lyceum in Springfield, Illinois in 1836. Lincoln was twenty-eight years old when he spoke these words:
“At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some trans-Atlantic military giant, to step the ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
WE NEED TO STUDY MORE ABOUT LINCOLN AND THOSE LIKE HIM
Lincoln warns us that maintaining our freedom and our bounty is directly related to our own actions. One of the ways we do this is through the study of prior conflicts, historical antecedents, and ethical dilemmas. Today we live in a world where civics and history are barely taught in school—and when they are, the message often is less about people addressing the great issues of the time and overcoming adversity and more about judgments exercised in “presentism.” Was Lincoln slow to embrace abolition? Perhaps. But the kernels of his ultimate position on slavery can be gleaned from his earlier speeches. His views evolved and he proceeded as fast as he could within the context of the politics of the times.
Today we should remember those who, despite the times in which they lived, had the mental plasticity to evolve and change and lead others to change. One can hope these lessons will help us confront our own challenges.
Lincoln’s is a voice that should be heeded as we spiral down the rabbit hole of election denial, authoritarianism, minority rule, and hostility toward on another.
Have a great day,
Glenn
PS: Tomorrow: Books of Lincoln. Wednesday: Valentines. Thursday: Reflections on the Special Counsel. Friday: Terrible Movies.