Except for Washington (and perhaps a very few others), our "great" men have been polarizing figures. Trump is cut from the same polarizing cloth. Some consider him wonderful, and others, the devil himself. That's the nature of leadership in a free society: "You cannot please all the people all the time."
My major issue with Abraham Lincoln is that he knowingly and willingly abrogated at least five Constitutional rights of those who spoke out against him.
He violated their First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendment rights.
And for those who say "But...but...he was trying to save the Union!"
It sets a dangerous precedent. What's to keep a man of lesser moral fiber from declaring the Union in danger, and doing the same thing?
I too have had thoughts. But, the nation was at war and unfortunately civil liberties may have to be suspended. FDR's Executive Order that stripped away all the rights of Japanese Americans during WW2 comes to mind. Looking back on it we may think that FDR was wrong but at the time he felt that it was an essential move to make.
And that was one of Justice Hugo Black's biggest regrets, he said in an interview. He voted on the majority side in Korematsu vs. the United States in 1943, which declared the Executive Order was Constitutional.
In later life, Justice Black regretted this ruling.
Thank you for sharing about this historically important person who rose to lead the country through a horrible war. Would there have been succession without him? I don’t know. But our nation reaped a horrible price for not dealing with the slavery issue in the American Revolution. Failure to deal with slavery did not make those efforts of the colonies to establish self government any less valuable than it certainly has become. However, how much a greater impact it would’ve been to take an early stand against slavery?
Now, I don't want to think about what our nation would look like had Lincoln not given his New York speech in 1860. Would we look something like Europe with a number of smaller nations? Would we ever coalesce into the large and great nation we have today? Interesting but no way.
Thank God for Abraham Lincoln and thank God for the Greatest nation on earth, the United States of America. Thank you Tara.
Lincoln was indeed a man made for his time, our country was realing over the issue of slavery and State rights. He did many things I would disagree with but I'm not from his time era. He did get our country thru a perilous time. God gave us the right man at the right time.
Height has been an advantage, when military and political leaders literally stood head and shoulders above others, and had to be physically looked up to. George Washington enjoyed the same perspective.
Hindsight is blinded by the historians. We were taught as youths that he was an endearing presence, that all around him were drawn in by his magnetic personality. If that were so, then why did so much of the nation stand against him and form the rebellion that became the (un)Civil War? Our most illustrious president was a divisive element in our history, one who drove us apart and brought us back together by his death. We have much to learn.
Lincoln is definitely numbered among our most consequential and influential presidents. Of course he was not perfect, but he was a man of integrity and vision. I love reading his speeches. They are deep, but easily understood. Always glad when you post a Lincoln story. They never grow old. Thanks, Tara.
I believe that must have been so moving and meaningful speech that so captivated the audience and the press that God’s grace had blessed Abraham Lincoln with His Divine Providence to ensure that he, Abraham Lincoln, would win the Presidency.
Except for Washington (and perhaps a very few others), our "great" men have been polarizing figures. Trump is cut from the same polarizing cloth. Some consider him wonderful, and others, the devil himself. That's the nature of leadership in a free society: "You cannot please all the people all the time."
My sentiments exactly Richard 💯
My major issue with Abraham Lincoln is that he knowingly and willingly abrogated at least five Constitutional rights of those who spoke out against him.
He violated their First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendment rights.
And for those who say "But...but...he was trying to save the Union!"
It sets a dangerous precedent. What's to keep a man of lesser moral fiber from declaring the Union in danger, and doing the same thing?
I too have had thoughts. But, the nation was at war and unfortunately civil liberties may have to be suspended. FDR's Executive Order that stripped away all the rights of Japanese Americans during WW2 comes to mind. Looking back on it we may think that FDR was wrong but at the time he felt that it was an essential move to make.
And that was one of Justice Hugo Black's biggest regrets, he said in an interview. He voted on the majority side in Korematsu vs. the United States in 1943, which declared the Executive Order was Constitutional.
In later life, Justice Black regretted this ruling.
While he advocated freedom from slavery, he didn't want blacks to have equal rights either.
Can you give an example and give a reference that I can look at to get up to speed on this?
I would really like to see some kind of legitimate documentation to support that claim, Mr. Baker.
Thank you for sharing about this historically important person who rose to lead the country through a horrible war. Would there have been succession without him? I don’t know. But our nation reaped a horrible price for not dealing with the slavery issue in the American Revolution. Failure to deal with slavery did not make those efforts of the colonies to establish self government any less valuable than it certainly has become. However, how much a greater impact it would’ve been to take an early stand against slavery?
Thank you Tara! I never knew the turning point of that speech. God had a plan!
Now, I don't want to think about what our nation would look like had Lincoln not given his New York speech in 1860. Would we look something like Europe with a number of smaller nations? Would we ever coalesce into the large and great nation we have today? Interesting but no way.
Thank God for Abraham Lincoln and thank God for the Greatest nation on earth, the United States of America. Thank you Tara.
Lincoln was indeed a man made for his time, our country was realing over the issue of slavery and State rights. He did many things I would disagree with but I'm not from his time era. He did get our country thru a perilous time. God gave us the right man at the right time.
Height has been an advantage, when military and political leaders literally stood head and shoulders above others, and had to be physically looked up to. George Washington enjoyed the same perspective.
Hindsight is blinded by the historians. We were taught as youths that he was an endearing presence, that all around him were drawn in by his magnetic personality. If that were so, then why did so much of the nation stand against him and form the rebellion that became the (un)Civil War? Our most illustrious president was a divisive element in our history, one who drove us apart and brought us back together by his death. We have much to learn.
Lincoln is definitely numbered among our most consequential and influential presidents. Of course he was not perfect, but he was a man of integrity and vision. I love reading his speeches. They are deep, but easily understood. Always glad when you post a Lincoln story. They never grow old. Thanks, Tara.
Happy Thirsty Thursday Tara Ross! 🧉💯🇱🇷🏴☠️❤️
The fickle fingers of fate weave a very distinct path through life.
👍👍👍
God's will.
Thank you, Tara.
I believe that must have been so moving and meaningful speech that so captivated the audience and the press that God’s grace had blessed Abraham Lincoln with His Divine Providence to ensure that he, Abraham Lincoln, would win the Presidency.
❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Always enjoy these insights into the person themself. It personalizes them and gives a 3-D feeling about them. Thanks.