Community Chat

[Marp]

Lincoln said:

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
November 19, 1863

[Ms tyrion2]

Thanks for posting this, @Marp.

That first sentence is so moving and important.

My greatest wish is that someday we achieve that noble goal.

[Marp]

@Ms tyrion2, my wish is that after reading this realization that in place of the civil war soldiers WE [the people] are now responsible for carrying out the promise of equality, a free democracy and government "of the people, by the people and for the people".

[Sammycat1]

Thanks for posting this. I live and work on the sacred ground at Gettysburg.  On this day, there is a solemn ceremony at which the Gettysburg Address is read at the same time that Lincoln delivered it.  Thousands attend this event, named "Dedication Day," which is what Lincoln was there to do....dedicate formally the Soldiers National Cemetery at Gettysburg.

Oh that we can strive to continue the work Lincoln set before us all.

Check it out on You Tube.

[RainCityWoman]

We have come so far in many ways, but we have to maintain our resolve not to let regression occur. We cannot let hatred and prejudice poison us inside out and outside in.  Our willingness to see wrongs and correct them is the hallmark of this nation.