The Lessons of Lincoln

When Abraham Lincoln was a child what were his dreams? His mind wandering off into the distance after reading, what did he imagine his future life to be?

Dreaming, hoping, praying, looking for inspiration. It seems to me, we all start in this same place. Some of us end up with great successes, and others just end up with huge disappointments. Most of us, however, land somewhere in the middle. 

No matter the decade or century, the stories all end up sounding similar. And history, no matter how hard we may try, seems destined to repeat itself.

I am sure when Lincoln was a boy he never imagined the kind of hatred that would spew when he was elected. Nor, could he have ever forseen the willingness of family, friends and neighbors to turn on each other and split this country in two. All because of the financial greed of the slave trade. 

The fear of cultural and economic change was as frightening then as it is now. And, sadly, we all know how that turned out.

I mentioned the similarities of dislike for Lincoln then and Obama now to my sister. To which, her head immediately exploded as she ran from the room claiming the media isn't hard enough on him. I am constantly astonished at the inability for any civil discourse when it comes to Obama. The same seemed to happen to Lincoln. 

Those opposed to both Presidents used, and are using, rhetoric steeped in fear and hate. There wasn't, and isn't, any truth behind the words. But if the sound bytes get repeated enough - people start to believe them. And if you even attempt to ask questions, remind them what the constitution actually says or, god-forbid, present the facts, you are greeted with eye-popping, face-reddening rage. 

It is frightening. I've seen it first hand. I'm depressed just thinking about it.

I now understand how a country gets to a point of civil unrest. Logic goes out the window. Compassion flees through the back door. Fear makes us its slave. And when fear takes hold, history shows us over and over again, terrible things happen.

I'm dreaming, hoping, praying and looking for inspiration that those of us in the middle, don't end up paying the price AGAIN because of the greed and fear of others.