The book A. Lincoln by Ronald C. White reads almost like a great adventure story, but certainly like a great epic novel -- only better. Author White enumerates events and elucidates as he writes about the great President.
So much can be said about Abraham Lincoln, and in coming days I plan to share more of what I am reading. One of my major impressions is how clear-thinking Lincoln was. This undoubtedly came from his innate good sense, but was also heavily encouraged by his avid reading of books, everything from the ancient Greek philosophers to the writers of the Enlightenment and beyond.
It is interesting to compare and contrast Lincoln to today's leaders. It is not so much a comparison with Pres Obama in this regard, as with a large segment of Republicans as well as the entertainment portion of the media. Wethus have now two groups of very loud voices.
First the Republican right seems to speak with a megaphone about how atrocious "Obamacare" is, even as millions of Americans think enough of it to sign up despite major computer glitches. These Republicans to be living once again in 2010 when a little-understood Affordable Health Care Act was passed and was easy game for critics. And all this in spite of the fact that Obamacare, as it is called, is hardly more than a facilitation program for private insurers. Where is the jobs program? Where is there any meaningful investigation of the Wall Street fiascos of 2008, the results of which are still very much felt on Main Street? I could go on.
The second very loud group, one with an electronic megaphone, is the media. The media of today, excepting the Internet which is a story unto itself, is dominated by a few large media corporations whose primary interest is money, and not necessarily the common good. Thus, we get endless stories of this or that celebrity in trouble, or this or that horrible tragedy, whether a weather "event," or some evil and violent deed.
Thus, it is almost impossible to have the mind of Lincoln, let alone a rational public discourse. This is not to say that things were any more rational in Lincoln's day. However, with such a President at the forefront of the government, it became possible to conclude a very difficult civil war.
Today's leaders seem unequal to the task, not necessarily through lack of trying, but from the opposition they face. I plan to develop these ideas further in coming days. You are invited to be part of the discussion.
So much can be said about Abraham Lincoln, and in coming days I plan to share more of what I am reading. One of my major impressions is how clear-thinking Lincoln was. This undoubtedly came from his innate good sense, but was also heavily encouraged by his avid reading of books, everything from the ancient Greek philosophers to the writers of the Enlightenment and beyond.
It is interesting to compare and contrast Lincoln to today's leaders. It is not so much a comparison with Pres Obama in this regard, as with a large segment of Republicans as well as the entertainment portion of the media. Wethus have now two groups of very loud voices.
First the Republican right seems to speak with a megaphone about how atrocious "Obamacare" is, even as millions of Americans think enough of it to sign up despite major computer glitches. These Republicans to be living once again in 2010 when a little-understood Affordable Health Care Act was passed and was easy game for critics. And all this in spite of the fact that Obamacare, as it is called, is hardly more than a facilitation program for private insurers. Where is the jobs program? Where is there any meaningful investigation of the Wall Street fiascos of 2008, the results of which are still very much felt on Main Street? I could go on.
The second very loud group, one with an electronic megaphone, is the media. The media of today, excepting the Internet which is a story unto itself, is dominated by a few large media corporations whose primary interest is money, and not necessarily the common good. Thus, we get endless stories of this or that celebrity in trouble, or this or that horrible tragedy, whether a weather "event," or some evil and violent deed.
Thus, it is almost impossible to have the mind of Lincoln, let alone a rational public discourse. This is not to say that things were any more rational in Lincoln's day. However, with such a President at the forefront of the government, it became possible to conclude a very difficult civil war.
Today's leaders seem unequal to the task, not necessarily through lack of trying, but from the opposition they face. I plan to develop these ideas further in coming days. You are invited to be part of the discussion.
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