I was just surfing around…

  • Posted by Beth on May 25th, 2004 filed in General    

I can’t even remember what I Googled–I think it was actually something related to music or something! Anyway, wouldn’t you know it, I found this totally unrelated gem at someone’s blog. So hey “Peter G,” I hope you don’t mind me borrowing it…

[ Postcards from DC I spent the weekend in Washington, DC and brought you back a little something:

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.-- excerpt from the Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863.

Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes his aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered--that of neither has been answered fully. -- excerpt from Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address, March 4, 1865

Almost seven score ago, Abraham Lincoln spoke words which still have relevance today. Please read the speeches in their entirety. They're very good.

- Peter G, 10:46 PM ]


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