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The bicentennial of Abraham Lincolns birthday couldn't have come at a more propitious time in our history because we could all use an extra reminder of his wisdom, his accomplishments, and his greatness.
Lincoln was President at a time of great crisis, and it will do well for us to reflect on some of the hard times that the Nation faced, and remember that, in those former times, their problems were just as serious as our current problems, and yet, they survived, and over came them. And we, as a people, were better, and we had a better country as a result.
Lincoln was the epitome of the American dream: the notion that ANYONE can succeed in this country, regardless of how humble their beginnings. There are many stories like Lincolns, and many of our Presidents and leaders have attained greatness from simple beginnings, but few have had as a great an impact on American history as Abraham Lincoln. Many generations have pointed to Lincoln as an example of what is possible, and what one man can accomplish.
The stories of his reading by fire light are true. The stories of his great strength, his ability to split rails, and his willingness to work hard, are all true. Even as a young person he was known as Honest Abe, a sign of his character, and it was an attribute that he did strive to earn.
Thank goodness that he had many good character traits. He seemed to have a special, solid understanding and belief in his view of human nature; many of his most difficult decisions as President depended on those beliefs. He was patient; very patient; some say, to a fault, but it seemed to have served him well. And he was forgiving; even when his own advisors betrayed his trust, he found ways to forgive them.
He wasnt perfect, and he would be the first one to say-so; he knew that he was just a man, with all the strengths, and weaknesses that entails, but he endeavored to overcome both.
He was the right President, and the right time, in the history of our country. His decisions have had great impact on us, even today, and, no doubt, helped make us the great power that we are now.
Being the bicentennial of his birthday, now is a great time to not only honor Abraham Lincoln, but to also remind ourselves, and to teach our children, too, about who he was, and why he is still important 143 years after his death.
We need to remind our children that Abraham Lincoln should be honored for who he was, and what he represented, and what he accomplished. They need to know that, if it werent for Abraham Lincoln, their day-to-day lives, and their country, and the world, would be much different places than they are now.
The End
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