Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy Birthday, USA

“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.”

The person who penned the above words, Abraham Lincoln, was speaking of the deadliest battle in American history-The Battle of Gettysburg-fought July 3rd, 4th & 5th 1863-exactly one hundred forty five years ago. It was during the same year that Lincoln freed the slaves. Today, for the first time, on this two hundred and thirty second birthday of the United States of America, a black man is running for president. Slow progress for sure but progress nevertheless. Just don’t look too hard at the email forwards making the rounds these days or the websites being created or listen to carefully to the Rush Limbaughs and Patrick Buchanans or the Al Sharptons and Jess Jacksons of the world. These are people who can’t get past that first layer of skin on a person. Shallow thinkers, indeed. One would hope they’re the exception-not the rule.
Happy Birthday, America. Long may you endure.

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