America has to care about Americans again. We have to put our people to work; we have to reinvent ourselves. In the Information Age, we must be the smartest people in the world.
We have to care more about our planet and our resources. Protect our timberlands and our waters.
Take care of the sick with a health care program that works. Cut the costs of prescriptions.
I could go on and one. We face unique problems today and if America is to survive, we must meet our challenges.
American can be seen as the *first* best hope of Earth if we adopt my plan. Please take some time for an optimistic look at how we can solve most of today's problems at no cost to anyone. (Yes, I know that sounds impossible but your feeling it is impossible is one symptom of the nature of the problem.) Try reading my novel, "Invisible Hand" published here on Gather. That won't cost you anything either because it is a fun book to read. You will agree that the solution is unique and one you have never considered before.
Mary Ann - this is very true...there are many challenges. As there have always been challenges...just different ones perhaps. I worry sometimes that we've become too complacent. That we've gotten so used to having all the advantages that we have, that we now take them for granted and don't dream as much. Or understand that you must work toward your dreams, not wait for them to miraculously fall in your lap simply because we are Americans. We have what we have because our predecessors worked hard for it. And we must continue to work for it or we will be passed by.
in practical terms, Lincoln was referring to slavery as a problem- he believed quite rightly that our clinging to slavery in 1860, long after Britain had shut down the export of slaves from Africa, was exposing us to international criticism. When you say out of one side of your mouth "all men are created equal", then out of the other side of your mouth "slaves will not have the vote and will constitute 3/5 of a human being for demographic purposes", you become a hypocrite. Lincoln wanted that to end. It did end, at a cost of 600,000 lives in a population of 15 million. That number of lives would be equivalent to 15 million deaths in the modern USA population of 300 million.
I rather think that it is still important to avoid hypocrisy in the eyes of other nations. How about "torture is bad for YOU to do, but if WE do it on terror suspects its just the price we pay for freedom". How about "climate change is important, so we are going to refuse to take any mandatory steps to combat it and talk you out of doing mandatory efforts either". How about "we favor a level playing field for international trade, except that we need to protect several sectors of our agricultural economy so it does not apply to us". How about "we believe in one man one vote for YOUR elections, but for OUR elections, we prefer the Electoral college which sometimes hands the job to the guy who gets less votes". Anyone else have a recent hypocrisy to add to the list?
Chris- interesting that at the same time we allowed slavery, we were also patrolling the seas off Africa and the Caribbean coasts to prohibit the importation of new slaves. I think from around 1820 or so. It was illegal, and only "in country" slaves already here was allowed. We even went as far as to try and stop the importation to So America and the Caribbean Islands (approx 80% went there), but it was ruled in the court we had no jurisdiction. Hypocritically weird I'd say... Compromise in action..?
Chris - I second the motion of avoiding hypocrisy. Your torture example is a good vehicle for exploring one of the difficulties of defining hypocrisy. The current Administration has defined waterboarding as an "enhanced interrogation technique," and therefore does not constitute torture. Hence, in their minds at least, this would not be hypocritical at all. The problem, of course, is that most others do consider waterboarding to be a form of torture. So to the others the Adminstration supports torture, but the Administration believes it does not. Unfortunately, whenever a person or group believes that they know what is right - and therefore everyone else is wrong - the person comes off as arrogant and hypocritical (and rightly so).
The same applies to other examples of hypocrisy. Many tend to wear blinders when viewing the world. Currently the solution to global warming, social security, education, loss of jobs overseas, etc. is "tax cuts" for the Republicans and "increase the minimum wage" for the Democrats. Obvoiusly I'm radically oversimplifying the respective party reactions to problems in need of solutions, but it does illustrate my point that people tend to see solutions as implementation of their agendas. The ideal would be to encourage, and accept, input from all stakeholders...put all ideas on the table...and weed through them to see what might actually work.
This last point is what I am looking for in the Presidential candidates. Someone willing to listen to all sides and make decisions based on informed input.
John - I would suggest political expediency. As with many of today's issues, it is impossible to simply sit down, figure out what is "right," then take action (as much as I would like it to be so). In most cases we are faced with taking incremental action or taking no action at all.
For example, Lincoln couldnn't issue the Emancipation Proclamation earlier than he did because he would have lost much of his support. The many early losses the North faced in the Civil War crimped his ability to make such a strong policy decision. But once the North had won a few major battles he had a stronger authority with which to free the slaves.
What brought be to this country several decades ago (and moved me to become a citizen of it) was my conviction that, to quote Larry, it was "the first best hope" for the wold. Today I wonder how I could have been so naive, or should I wonder how we could have fallen so low in such a short time? Abraham Lincoln must be turning in his grave!
Josette - While I certainly have been critical of recent US administrations, I have seen enough other places to appreciate what we have here. I also see how people from other countries want to come here. But, in a larger sense (to borrow from Abe), I see a need for the American people to pay more attention to what is happening. To become informed and hold ourselves and our representatives accountable. To understand that there are other countries in the world, each with its own history and current issues that may or may not mirror our own.
And most of all, to play a leadership role in the stewardship of our planet. The world has become a small place. We cannot ignore it, nor bully it. We must show compassion, consideration, and leadership.
The dream remains in all of us. It's time we put the attainment of the dream into action. It begins with ONE, then it's shared with ONE more, then TWO.
Very soon we will be turning our backs to the past seven years and be facing the opportunity and the challenges of putting this nation back on the right track. We've got to keep the current motivation accelerating. Dreams do come true.
I heard on NPR this morning that they have discovered photographs of him that were misfiled all these years. They said you could go to the NPR site to view them if you're interested.
Lisa - I see you did a documentary on Ida Tarbell. She was quite a woman herself and did some important journalistic work. You must have really enjoyed doing your film on her.
Yes, David, Tarbell set the standard for investigative journalism with her relentless, fact-based reporting. Though she is best known for her groundbreaking work, The History of the Standard Oil Company, she was most proud of her Lincoln biographies. We produced the documentary in 1999, but I return to her writing and archives every chance I get.
Lisa - Obviously I'm biased toward her Lincoln work, but I remember (vaguely) reading her Standard Oil stuff when I was in high school (hence the vaguely). We could use some good investigative journalists these days. Alas, it appears there is more interest in playing "gotcha" and making headlines than serving the public good.
Although Lincoln remains my favorite President, and our first Presidential Poet, we would do well to remember that he did not take our country to war in order to free the slaves, he took our country to war to preserve the Union.
Teresa - it seems inevitable (to me) that free nations would emerge. Authoritarian regimes work because they have the power (i.e., the military might) to control the masses. But as communications became easier and more widespread the "word" would get out that people are treated better in some places than in others...and dissatisfaction would lead to the ruler being overthrown (often for another authoritarian ruler).
But consider today that the internet, television, radio, etc. make it easy for most of the world to instantaneously know what is going on in the rest of the world. Sure, much of the media are still controlled by the ruling class, but it is inevitable that the concept of individual rights and freedoms would be known everywhere. And the desire to exercise those freedoms follows (albeit on varied schedules depending on lots of other factors).
The trick is that the US cannot force feed democracy on the world. Kosovo today declared its independence, and the US and much of Europe quickly extended formal diplomatic recognition. Meanwhile, Russia is regressing from its move toward a more democratic nation because no matter how much people like individual freedoms, they still have to eat. Stability often outweighs personal rights.
Chris W. As much as I abhor hypocrisy, I still accept that we are a nation of humans with all of their weaknesses. I also feel that we should look at history in the context of the times. When the said all men are create equal, it was a time of kings, they were changing all the world insuch a way that over 200 years later they can be condenmed as hypocrits.
With regard to the Electoral College, don;t you believe in State's rights and whehter they should decide how they take the direction of their citizens?
Hypocracy to me is to support liberty and freedom and then condemn those that risk their lives, their property and their honor trying to give it to keeping it for us and extending it to others.
Torture is a very difficult issue because it has no context in its defintion nor carifying description. I am probably one of your hypocrits when it comes to torture, I feel the beheadings are torture, the wiring of peoples arms behind their backs and hoisting them off their feet is torture, breaking their bones and dismembering them is torture. While some consider asking people in a loud voice as torture because it can give a sense of intimidation. I openly admit that questioning people past their comfort level, being aggressive in their questioning with loud voices, and using other non-destructive [not letting them smoke, etc.] mehtods of making a person uncomfortable is acceptable are acceptable in certain situation.
I think Lincoln's dream has been true for many many years, and still is today. If you asked those without liberty and freedoms, I believe they would say America first. Who do you feel they would say before they would mention the US of A?
With regard to our doing more, you migth be overlooking that on a per capita basis we have created more improvements to using our planet than any other country, that we have openly taken more of what we have and what we know to the rest of the world than any other nation, that we are investing more in improving all aspects of life on this planet than any other nation. Whether is a simply giving sleeping nets to people in Africa, giving the world new ways of managing their business.
You maybe frustrated with incremental change, but in reality incremental change is a way you build a foundation for the future. When changes are incrimental they get more detailed and practical look by more people so the change becomes usable by all people. I personally have doubts when one person or small group of people say this is right and everyone should change right now. It suggests they have an inflated view of themselves and a less then respectful view of everyone else's intellect.
You may feel that many wear blinders when viewing the world. I my temper that by mentioning that many wear blinders when viewing America and why so much of the world is repicating what is happenig here.
It's a very good quote. I feel as though we are living in the greatest country on earth. Yes there is an American dream and there always will be. Many are living their American dream today. The problem with a dream is, everybody has one, and though it may be based on the original one, people are different. People in today's society are different than what they were 10 or 20 or 30 years ago, and tomorrow, they will be different than today. With the onset of a more modern world, we have given into and relied on technology. In the transit society we live in, we are invaded with new ideas and beliefs; not all bad, just different. However, with this modern world and transit society, people are lost. They don't know what to believe or who to believe. Some have even given up hope and lost their beliefs, choosing to live their own way, however that may be. In speaking to one young lady she tells me "I have no dreams. Dreams don't come true." One young man says, "Why bother. The world is not going to be here for long." They are not the only young people who proclaim this. There are many. Look around. You might find that as close as your home. It is true that we all could use a little help, and we all have our dream, but America is a great country. I'm glad I live here. God Bless America!
I have faith in my own ability to make things happen. In the US, I have the freedom to do exactly that. I know in other countries there are restrictions on what the individual can accomplish. Here there are not. Some may have greater challenges than others, but in the end, it comes down to whether you work hard enough to achieve your goals.
Please provide details below to help Gather review this content. If it is found to be inappropriate and in violation of the Gather Terms of Service, action will be taken.
Please select the part of the post you are reporting.
Please select why you are reporting this content.
Please enter a description.
You have successfully submitted a report for this post.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 59
Very true...if you don't dream, there is nothing to reach for
Great quote Abe~
Thanks for the quote.
We have to care more about our planet and our resources. Protect our timberlands and our waters.
Take care of the sick with a health care program that works. Cut the costs of prescriptions.
I could go on and one. We face unique problems today and if America is to survive, we must meet our challenges.
The complete novel is also available at:
http://www.unc.edu/~mason/hand.html
with no ads.
When you say out of one side of your mouth "all men are created equal", then out of the other side of your mouth "slaves will not have the vote and will constitute 3/5 of a human being for demographic purposes", you become a hypocrite. Lincoln wanted that to end. It did end, at a cost of 600,000 lives in a population of 15 million. That number of lives would be equivalent to 15 million deaths in the modern USA population of 300 million.
I rather think that it is still important to avoid hypocrisy in the eyes of other nations. How about "torture is bad for YOU to do, but if WE do it on terror suspects its just the price we pay for freedom". How about "climate change is important, so we are going to refuse to take any mandatory steps to combat it and talk you out of doing mandatory efforts either". How about "we favor a level playing field for international trade, except that we need to protect several sectors of our agricultural economy so it does not apply to us". How about "we believe in one man one vote for YOUR elections, but for OUR elections, we prefer the Electoral college which sometimes hands the job to the guy who gets less votes".
Anyone else have a recent hypocrisy to add to the list?
We even went as far as to try and stop the importation to So America and the Caribbean Islands (approx 80% went there), but it was ruled in the court we had no jurisdiction.
Hypocritically weird I'd say... Compromise in action..?
The same applies to other examples of hypocrisy. Many tend to wear blinders when viewing the world. Currently the solution to global warming, social security, education, loss of jobs overseas, etc. is "tax cuts" for the Republicans and "increase the minimum wage" for the Democrats. Obvoiusly I'm radically oversimplifying the respective party reactions to problems in need of solutions, but it does illustrate my point that people tend to see solutions as implementation of their agendas. The ideal would be to encourage, and accept, input from all stakeholders...put all ideas on the table...and weed through them to see what might actually work.
This last point is what I am looking for in the Presidential candidates. Someone willing to listen to all sides and make decisions based on informed input.
For example, Lincoln couldnn't issue the Emancipation Proclamation earlier than he did because he would have lost much of his support. The many early losses the North faced in the Civil War crimped his ability to make such a strong policy decision. But once the North had won a few major battles he had a stronger authority with which to free the slaves.
And most of all, to play a leadership role in the stewardship of our planet. The world has become a small place. We cannot ignore it, nor bully it. We must show compassion, consideration, and leadership.
We certainly need to work to restore our credibility.
Very soon we will be turning our backs to the past seven years and be facing the opportunity and the challenges of putting this nation back on the right track. We've got to keep the current motivation accelerating. Dreams do come true.
http://lincolnquotes.gather.com/
But consider today that the internet, television, radio, etc. make it easy for most of the world to instantaneously know what is going on in the rest of the world. Sure, much of the media are still controlled by the ruling class, but it is inevitable that the concept of individual rights and freedoms would be known everywhere. And the desire to exercise those freedoms follows (albeit on varied schedules depending on lots of other factors).
The trick is that the US cannot force feed democracy on the world. Kosovo today declared its independence, and the US and much of Europe quickly extended formal diplomatic recognition. Meanwhile, Russia is regressing from its move toward a more democratic nation because no matter how much people like individual freedoms, they still have to eat. Stability often outweighs personal rights.
In the end, we are all people of the world.
As much as I abhor hypocrisy, I still accept that we are a nation of humans with all of their weaknesses. I also feel that we should look at history in the context of the times. When the said all men are create equal, it was a time of kings, they were changing all the world insuch a way that over 200 years later they can be condenmed as hypocrits.
With regard to the Electoral College, don;t you believe in State's rights and whehter they should decide how they take the direction of their citizens?
Hypocracy to me is to support liberty and freedom and then condemn those that risk their lives, their property and their honor trying to give it to keeping it for us and extending it to others.
Torture is a very difficult issue because it has no context in its defintion nor carifying description. I am probably one of your hypocrits when it comes to torture, I feel the beheadings are torture, the wiring of peoples arms behind their backs and hoisting them off their feet is torture, breaking their bones and dismembering them is torture. While some consider asking people in a loud voice as torture because it can give a sense of intimidation. I openly admit that questioning people past their comfort level, being aggressive in their questioning with loud voices, and using other non-destructive [not letting them smoke, etc.] mehtods of making a person uncomfortable is acceptable are acceptable in certain situation.
I think Lincoln's dream has been true for many many years, and still is today.
If you asked those without liberty and freedoms, I believe they would say America first.
Who do you feel they would say before they would mention the US of A?
With regard to our doing more, you migth be overlooking that on a per capita basis we have created more improvements to using our planet than any other country, that we have openly taken more of what we have and what we know to the rest of the world than any other nation, that we are investing more in improving all aspects of life on this planet than any other nation. Whether is a simply giving sleeping nets to people in Africa, giving the world new ways of managing their business.
You maybe frustrated with incremental change, but in reality incremental change is a way you build a foundation for the future. When changes are incrimental they get more detailed and practical look by more people so the change becomes usable by all people. I personally have doubts when one person or small group of people say this is right and everyone should change right now. It suggests they have an inflated view of themselves and a less then respectful view of everyone else's intellect.
You may feel that many wear blinders when viewing the world. I my temper that by mentioning that many wear blinders when viewing America and why so much of the world is repicating what is happenig here.
I feel as though we are living in the greatest country on earth. Yes there is an American dream and there always will be. Many are living their American dream today. The problem with a dream is, everybody has one, and though it may be based on the original one, people are different. People in today's society are different than what they were 10 or 20 or 30 years ago, and tomorrow, they will be different than today. With the onset of a more modern world, we have given into and relied on technology. In the transit society we live in, we are invaded with new ideas and beliefs; not all bad, just different. However, with this modern world and transit society, people are lost. They don't know what to believe or who to believe. Some have even given up hope and lost their beliefs, choosing to live their own way, however that may be. In speaking to one young lady she tells me "I have no dreams. Dreams don't come true." One young man says, "Why bother. The world is not going to be here for long." They are not the only young people who proclaim this. There are many. Look around. You might find that as close as your home.
It is true that we all could use a little help, and we all have our dream, but America is a great country. I'm glad I live here.
God Bless America!
I have faith in my own ability to make things happen. In the US, I have the freedom to do exactly that. I know in other countries there are restrictions on what the individual can accomplish. Here there are not. Some may have greater challenges than others, but in the end, it comes down to whether you work hard enough to achieve your goals.
A place in America...