This is a day to remember George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. As a citizen of the great State of Illinois I would like to honor its favorite Son by posting his most famous speech. The rail splitter and circuit rider certainly had longer and more cerebral speeches; but, none that were more eloquent and yet direct and simple at the same time.
The speech took place several months after the Battle of Gettysburg in which 7500 soldiers died. A ceremony was held to dedicate the cemetary and the main speaker was Edward Everett who spoke for over two hours. Abraham Lincoln then delivered the following address which took less than 3 minutes:
quote:
The Gettysburg Address Gettysburg, Pennsylvania November 19, 1863
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.
VM
Posts: 9561 | Location: Chicago | Registered: Oct 17, 2001
A proud, beautiful moment for our country, VM. Lincoln was an amazing human being, as was George Washington and it is doubtful our country would be as it is today for all of us without their profund contributions, high ideals and courage to see it through.
Great post VM, thanks.
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"Asking government to fix this crisis is like asking the arsonist to put out the fire." -Thomas Sowell
Posts: 4510 | Location: Dubai | Registered: Dec 20, 2002
I wish they still made Presidents like that these days. I doubt Abe would be too impressed with what has become of his Republican party. Still, it beats the alternatives.
The Battlefield/Memorial is something every American should visit at least once in their lifetime. Truely moving and spectacularly done.
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