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| My friend Lincoln and me in Springfield Illinois - September, 2016 |
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| Me with a cute mold of Lincoln in Detroit, Michigan - August, 2016 |
Everyone knows that my favorite person of all time is President Lincoln. Ever since joining the Civil War Club at my elementary school in 5th grade, I've had a deep respect for Abraham Lincoln. Over the years I have learned more about him and his presidency, and my admiration has only grown. In honor of his 208th birthday (February 12th, 1809), I have to share my love for LincolnI could talk (or write) for hours about why I think he's so great, but I will limit my list to three.
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| Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield, IL - visited in September, 2016 |
1. His accomplishments represent the American Dream. Abraham Lincoln was born in poverty, and grew up with less than one year of formal education. Lincoln's own father didn't want him going to school and wasting his time when he could be working. But Lincoln recognized the value of education, and virtually taught himself to read and write. He even taught himself law. He worked many different jobs, including as a rail splitter, lawyer and finally politician. Though he came from humble beginnings-- literally a single-room cabin-- he eventually was able to purchase a large home and employ cooks and workers. Lincoln did not live with a hand out for what he felt he deserved; he worked for it, and reached the highest office in the land by doing so.
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| What Lincoln's childhood one roomed cabin may have looked like - Springfield IL, 2016 |
2. He always had room for reflection and growth. In reading many of Lincoln's early speeches I've learned that Lincoln was always revising his opinions on important subjects. Slavery was the most controversial subject during his lifetime, and he almost constantly shifted his views on slavery, varying from at one time desiring to colonize African Americans, to arguing for their legal equality in the United States. I can appreciate a person who reflects on situations and opinions and grows from experiences. It's always OK to admit you've changed your mind, and I appreciate that Lincoln did that.
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| Lincoln and his Cabinet, National Archives |
3. He saved our country. Upon Lincoln's election to president in November, 1860, southern states almost immediately began seceding. Lincoln didn't want war, but he more strongly desired union, and was willing to fight for it. Though he didn't start the war, he worked tirelessly for four years to end it, re-unify the country, and eventually free the slaves and offer them citizenship. Lincoln wholeheartedly devoted himself to saving our great (and young) nation, and did some things that many others wouldn't. For example, his cabinet was made up of his political rivals because he wanted to ensure that on every topic he would receive sound advice from knowledgeable men. In my opinion, with almost any other person in his position, we would not be a single nation today.
I'll close with one of my favorite Lincoln quotes-- this one spoken in February of 1861:
"I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot."
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