The Gettysburg Address

On June 1, 1865, Senator Charles Sumner commented on what is now considered the most famous speech by President Abraham Lincoln. In his eulogy on the slain president, he called it a "monumental act." He said Lincoln was mistaken that "the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here." Rather, the Bostonian remarked, "The world noted at once what he said, and will never cease to remember it. The battle itself was less important than the speech."

"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."

Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

What We Seek to Accomplish

What a brilliant and insightful man was our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, and how desperately we could use his wise consul now. For regardless of what the political pundits and naysayers may insist, on every frontier, this country is in big trouble. And whomever has the misfortune to become our 44th president, he will have his or her work cutout for them. America at present is a broken nation.

Ready or not, the 2008 presidential election will be a critical turning point for the world's greatest experiment in democracy, Constitutional America. Government of the people, by the people and for the people will meet its greatest and possibly final challenge - We the People.

What do the American people want? Well the answer to that query has to be rendered in the form of several segmented responses, for our society has always been segmented in reality and united only in myth. We have tried to form a society composed of a volatile mix of various cultures, ethnic groups and races that never really come together in their parent lands. And we have tried to bond together this inharmonious collection from many countries, into a homogenous mixture bound together by a simple humane tolerance the founding fathers dared to envision as possible.

These groups were the same ones who fought with each other over the centuries from their various countries via invasions and wars, visiting upon each other pillage, slavery, death and destruction. And what our forefathers bravely sought to do was to bring them all into this one country that was sort of a giant meeting hall, like the United Nations, but to define it as a single 'nation united' in purpose under a constitution promising deed and pledge: the United States of America.

Unfortunately, proof that this noble proposition has not worked out exactly as planned, has never been more clear as that exemplified by the politics leading up to the 2008 presidential election. We the People - are not united. If anything, our - disunity - is rapidly evolving to a higher level. It is clear that we do not view each other as fellow Americas, but rather as opposing political factions. And regardless of what they may say or protest to the opposite, most Americans exhibit preferential respect to those who think politically as they do. Such an attitude does not leave much room for understanding and employment of the art of compromise - and the ability to compromise is the very heart of a true democracy.

Will Our Failures Define Us?

American democracy is a new concept that has been a 'work in progress' for well over two hundred years. During this time we as a nation have made many inhumane, and often bloody, missteps toward finalizing the dreams of our country's founding fathers. In many instances the effort has been halfhearted at best (stubbornly slowed and moderated by suspicion, hatred and violence), but despite all disrupting human forces has always remained steadfastly forward looking. However, we seek to be not only more but also better then we were yesterday, and in the final analysis that has always been our saving grace. Still, in the history and consciences of our nation, our failures hang heavy in our hearts.

We the People have not managed to eliminate racial, cultural and ethnic prejudice, but we have successfully managed to drive these social demons underground.

We the People have instilled by word and law the right to religious freedom for all our citizens, regardless of where they may hail from. But staunchly resist the willful granting in full of such for those whose beliefs fall some distance from the tree of understanding and tolerance we worship - namely Christianity.

We the People have not managed to control the excesses of a capitalism based society's monotheistic outlook on wealth, as we originally strived to do by Constitutional limitations. Instead, by the process of willful attrition, we have allowed the forces of privately held wealth to morph into giant corporations that control the economic fate of the working class.

We the People have extended equal justice to everyone - including our avowed cultural adversaries from abroad, and as a result of such actions have rendered us all equally unsafe from our enemies within and without.

So it would appear that in the two hundred thirty odd year history of our country, moved by forces of the Conservative Right and the Liberal Left, we have defeated all enemies except the most important of all: that of the national alter ego that is us - We the People. We have as yet to come to grips with the reality that is always starring us in the face, namely that the politicians we elect - continuously - are a stark reflection of ourselves, our dark side. In essence, they are the Mr. Hyde to our Dr. Jekyll.

Promises of the Pretenders to the Throne

Hillary Rodham Clinton: A senator and former first lady of eight years duration, claims she is ready to meet the demands of the office on 'day one.' She also promises to begin removing American military forces from the Iraq theater of war within 60 days of becoming chief of state, and to deliver some form of workable universal health care within her first term. She has also promised to pull together a team to quickly address the rising economic plight of middle class Americans and the country as a whole.

Unfortunately, the of her candidacy has the 'Sword of Damocles' hovering above it, in the form of the tattered reputation of her husband, our 42nd president, William Jefferson Clinton. She was involved with him in the Whitewater Scandal, but both were absolved of any 'provable' wrongdoing. The real hurdle for her to scale, however, is the impeachment of her husband while in office for lying to Congress, while under oath, about a sexual affair with a White House aide.

Footnote: The US House of Representatives impeached President Clinton on December 19, 1998, charging him with perjury and obstruction of justice during investigations into the Lewinsky scandal. It was apparent, however, that much of the public, while fascinated by the scandal, believed the impeachment to be partisan and irrelevant to national affairs. In 1999, two impeachment counts were tried in the Senate, which voted to acquit Clinton.

Barack Hussein Obama: This man is the candidate of those seeking the coming of a 'new' Messiah. He fits perfectly the profile of both the Black Community and Youth standards for reconciling past centuries wrongs, while at the same time satisfying the perfectionist demands of the future - almost always held by the young. To these 'followers' he has promised to address and cure all the ills and complaints of our society, but he has been curiously evasive as to just how he would accomplish such a multitude of feats. To date he appears dedicated to avoiding any detailed explanation of whatever plans he may have in the back of his mind as to solving the many complex issues facing America. In many ways, it's almost as if he's planning s surprise party for the country in November of 2008. (Click here to read Wall Street Journal's evaluation of Obama's speeches)

John Sidney McCain lll: A senator and legitimate war hero who sees nothing wrong with keeping a large contingent of American fighting personnel in Iraq, even should that stay be for decades to come. He feels the slow attrition of the lives of American soldiers can be justified, if in the end we archive a high enough kill ratio over the enemy - which remains to be clearly defined - whoever they may turn out to be. But his capabilities of an administrator is to date - unclear. However, due to his known health problems, age and two bouts of cancer, it will be very important for any administration that he should head to be backed up by a so;id and competent vice presidential choice.

Michael Dale Huckabee: A former ordained Baptist minister and state governor, who views religious freedom as a right granted by Christian forefathers for Christians. His main prerogative appears to be the resurrection of the personal and motivation style of our former president, Ronald Reagan. He is against same sex marriage, abortion, but strangely a moderate on the issue of dealing with illegal immigration. And he unashamedly appeals to the extreme Right Wing of the Republican Party, as well as those same elements in the democratic party - of which there are many.

Who Can Truly Bring This Nation Together?

Bringing a seriously divided nation together is not by any means a mythical impossible to accomplish task: Its been done before. Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were on the verge of doing so when they were cut down. And Franklin D. Roosevelt clearly did so during the Great Depression: The healing can be accomplished. The only question is by Who and How?

We have a Middle Class that is struggling to not only survive, but to define itself after decades of neglect by the two major political parties. As a group, they now hear that 'flushing' sound and they know that if something drastic is not done soon, they will be getting very wet. Their needs have become the new political driving force of America. Unfortunately for them, after so long a wait, when their turn has finally come, it is the Youth Movement that is driving the political bandwagon. And the sad truth is, politically speaking, they know how to steer, but as yet they don't know how to drive.

A Rogue Possibility: Radical Bush Administration Exit Strategy

Like it or not, however, the outcome of this American presidential election verges on two factors that continue to vie for first place. There is the serious matter of future energy requirements for the country which means oil and, no matter how you put it, its main source is - the Middle East. And secondly, an economy which does not look good in the long term, as we have a currency that is rapidly dropping to the value and level of Monopoly money. And just about everyone in their non partisan sober moments knows that we cannot sustain a trillion dollar two-front war - indefinitely.

However, as desperate as it may appear at the moment, the situation can become far worse in a flash if there is a significant military action, by either side - or an established ally, in the growing international arena of the Middle East Conflict. In many minds there remains the nagging fear that the present presidential administration, virtually exiting with its tail between its legs will do something - foolhardy, unwise and unthinkable.

The Last Time We Saw America

I often wonder what thoughts ran through the mind of some unknown but 'thinking' Roman, as he or she with their family fled their burning city in 476 AD? Did he or she figure themselves to be part of the equation that led to the destruction of their beloved country? Was there something they could have done when they had the chance, or should have done, regardless, to try to prevent the catastrophe?

For the first time since the formation of this country, its fate is truly in the hands of its citizens. But the big question is what will they do with this power? Will they go for the untried and untested Black candidate as an apology to the guilt of the past, or will they let go of another long held prejudice and chose the White female candidate of proven resume skills? Or will they go with the former determined war hero or, in a mad moment, choose to risk it all with the man of God?

I have no idea how this very crucial presidential election will end (and either do the lauded pundits), but I know that whatever the results in November of 2008, a course will have been set for this century - one that we may not be able to change. And the truth of the matter is that America, now undeniably slipping to 'Second World' status, has forged a new very real challenge - can any of these pretenders to the throne get us back to the glory? Can any of them even slow or stop the descent?

In other words my fellow Americans, what we desperately need is another Abraham Lincoln - and we need him - or her - now!

Historical Notes of Interest on Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Of the five known manuscript copies of the Gettysburg Address, the Library of Congress has two. President Lincoln gave one of these to each of his two private secretaries, John Nicolay and John Hay. The copy on exhibit, which belonged to Nicolay, is often called the "first draft" because it is believed to be the earliest copy that exists.

Considerable scholarly debate continues about whether the Nicolay copy is the "reading" copy. In 1894 Nicolay wrote that Lincoln had brought with him the first part of the speech, written in ink on Executive Mansion stationery, and that he had written the second page in pencil on lined paper before the dedication on November 19, 1863. Matching folds are still evident on the two pages shown here, suggesting it could be the copy that eyewitnesses say Lincoln took from his coat pocket and read at the ceremony.

However, one of the arguments supporting the contrary theory that the delivery text has been lost is that some of the words and phrases of the Nicolay copy do not match contemporaneous accounts. The words "under God," for example, are missing from the phrase "that this nation [under God] shall have a new birth of freedom...." In order for the Nicolay draft to have been the reading copy, Lincoln uncharacteristically would have had to depart from his written text in several instances. This copy of the Gettysburg Address remained in John Nicolay's possession until his death in 1901, when it passed to his friend and colleague John Hay.

The "second draft," probably made by Lincoln shortly after his return to Washington from Gettysburg, was given to John Hay, whose descendants donated both it and the Nicolay copy to the Library of Congress in 1916. There are numerous variations in words and punctuation between these two drafts. Because these variations provide clues into Lincoln's thinking and because these two drafts are the most closely tied to November 19, they continue to be consulted by scholars of the period.

The other three copies of the Address were written by Lincoln for charitable purposes well after November 19. The copy for Edward Everett, the orator who spoke at Gettysburg for two hours prior to Lincoln, is at the Illinois State Historical Library at Springfield; the Bancroft copy, requested by historian George Bancroft, is at Cornell University; the Bliss copy was made for Colonel Alexander Bliss, Bancroft's stepson, and is now in the Lincoln Room of the White House.

Your comments - The voices of our readers

Well written, Allen. Enjoyed the historical notes on the Address. Jim McAllister, Scottsdale, AZ "No matter what you say or how you try to say it it looks like to me you are simply against a black man as president.  In your picture you look black, but I guess thats only on the outside.  Shame on you." O. Moore, Brooklyn, N.Y. Since I am not liberal, and since I am fed up with the Republican Party lowering the baseline of conservatism every day, I am ready for a new party. I hope one comes my way soon. I will be searching. Vera, Upland, CA