The Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863
© Abraham Lincoln Online
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.
Taken from: GETTYSBURG ADDRESS
I am sure you are wondering what the heck this post is about? Well…..as you know (from my about me section, etc) I am South African born and raised. So I didn’t get to cover too much American History in school. In class last week our instructor posted a link to the information above (see link above, this is not my writing, obviously!).
Somehow he related the above to leadership, as our course is called Organizational Leadership. Don’t ask me how, I can’t remember! Well he asked for someone to read the address out loud, there was an awkward silence so I offered…..heck I hadn’t heard it before so why not!!
As I was reading it the following line impacted me a lot……….
conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
I guess it hit me because here is one of the worlds most famous public addresses and right there, in black and white, it says all men are created EQUAL!!!!
It does NOT say all men are created equal except people of color, gay people or immigrants etc. So then I ask……..WHY do some people find ways to discriminate against others based on certain factors that are out of their control???? When born you’re white or black, gay or straight, NO ONE asks for any of these traits that define who they are!!! I know I didn’t come out screaming as a new-born, “HEY I WANT TO BE A LESBIAN WHEN I GET BIG!!!” So why do people treat us – us meaning those who are ‘different’ – like it is some conscious decision we made????
Why do people use the Church as a way to discriminate when it suits us, but then kick it to the curb when it doesn’t benefit their plan?
Why do people us the Constitution for their benefit when needed, but chose to disregard it at other times??
I guess I’m just saddened by how people choose to manipulate almost anything, the bible, the Constitution, the Government System, etc. when it’ll benefit them!! But use these things against groups of people when they feel it’ll better their cause or help them to continue with their propaganda filled messages!!!
People need to remember that back when these items were created slavery was considered normal and totally acceptable…..but as the times changed so did the acceptance of this behavior!! Times change….attitudes change….things are always evolving….and US, US as a ‘people’ need to evolve and adjust too and learn to not FEAR THE UNKNOWN BUT RATHER EMBRACE IT!!!!
I am with you there D, I have always been “different” – either by way of race, gender, or even sexual identity. To me, there is no true “normal” as everyone’s normal is what you make of it from your past experiences, your environment, and your influences and most importantly, your chemistry. We are born the way we are, no more, no less, not better, not worse. I don’t know how many times I have been places where I have been stared at, places go complete silent when I walk in (not because i am drop dead gorgeous or anything either LOL). I choose however to see it as, hey, they stop and stare because I am different, and that is awesome because how many others out there will kill for that?