Abraham Lincoln – an annual tribute to celebrate his birthday
An evening pause: The memory of this man and what he stood for and accomplished must not be forgotten, which is why I try to celebrate his memory each year with a tribute on his birthday. As I wrote in 2021,
[T]hough he freed the slaves, I think Lincoln’s most enduring contribution to American history, a contribution that now has sadly been lost, was his limitless good will for everyone, even to those who hated him and wished to kill him. Had he not been assassinated, American history might have been far better because Lincoln would have had the clout to ease the worst elements of Reconstruction, while forcing through reforms in the former southern slave states.
Those reforms did not happen until the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and are now being abandoned in the 2020s by black supremacists in the academic community who are imposing new racist Jim Crow laws nationwide, designed to favor blacks and other minorities.
Listen to the words of the first song, which was a Lincoln campaign song. He stood for freedom for all, and put his life on the line for that principle. From the pictures you can see the evolution of this kind-hearted but determined man from youth to mid-age, with all the troubles of the Civil War reflected in his face and mouth.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Hal Holbrook “Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address”
The Ed Sullivan Show (February 13, 1966)
https://youtu.be/TYm2ukrBoJQ
5:14
Hmmm… My understanding is that Lincoln was not so much anti slavery as it was a political compromise he had to make ?
Interesting that, both America and Britain still used slaves for decades after the Abolition Act was passed.
They only stopped the African slave trade due to ship insurance policies getting too expensive, the increasing costs being passed on to the price of a slave at market making it financially unsustainable.
There was also insurance fraud going on where slaves were thrown overboard to drown at sea for the lost cargo insurance payout.
(Seldom mentioned that it was African tribes that supplied the slaves to the opportunistic colonials. Also, there were white slaves, mostly Scots & Irish, sent to the colonies by courts)
Slavery has been banned twice in Britain. Not sure how you end up banning something twice but they did. Yet, slavery still exists in Britain to this day.
The American Constitution is mostly based on the English Magna Carta that banned slavery the first time.
The lower peerage, Lords and Barons mostly, were exploited by the devious kings to make wealth for the monarchy via the use of annexed lands awarded to his favorite peers (and the unfortunate local peasants residing on that land who were forced to make money for the “land lords” and land barons in turn.).
But, somehow the modern day public incorrectly think that the Magna Carta antislavery applies to the peasants, when in fact it was actually only for the peers to make more personal profit. A very similar set up to modern day “privatization”.
The second time slavery was banned was the end of financial viability of shipping Africans across the ocean.
Slavery was not so much abolished as it was updated and reformed. Now, you don’t have to be a kidnapped African to be a slave. Of course, slavery has been around for as long as humans have, in all corners of the globe, exploited by most cultures if not all, and it still exists today.
There is an Australian comedian that does a great satirical take on slavery, look up Steve Hughes “jobs”.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qIJrsAIhoEo&pp=ygUSc3RldmUgaHVnaGVzIHdvcmsg
Slavery became much cheaper when they chained us all to a mandatory citizenship without our consent (read the small print on a passport, it is a State ownership document, it’s not “yours”, we are State “property”.), taxes are a form of slavery exploitation and protection money from State gangsters with serious coercion, “work agencies” (pimping out “workers” that they then pay below rate wages) and the debt culture.
We are even given serial numbers at birth that you constantly have to provide when applying for various things, college, military, jobs, bank accounts etc. Not too different from having a barcode. Who own your chains ?
Everybody is now included in this bankster State exploitation regardless of nationality, language, skin color etc.
David C: You simplify things much too much. You also appear to see everyone as evil, except yourself. These tendencies prevent you from analyzing things objectively and with depth.
For example, Lincoln was a magnificent politician who knew how to draw allies and power to himself. He also was consistently principled throughout his entire political career. When he said he opposed slavery he meant it. And the south believed him because of his track record, which is why they tried to secede.
And your definition of slavery is so broad as to be meaningless.
Yes, the Royal Navy ended the ocean-borne slave trade because ship insurance policies were too expensive. Just in case this wasn’t clear, the Royal Navy didn’t just stop British slavers; their anti-slavery patrols stopped everybody.
It just doesn’t track; if it’s unprofitable to ship slaves, then why would the RN feel the need to stop the merchants of rival nations from beggaring themselves? If it is profitable, then the British clearly stopped the slave trade for some other reason.
Robert
Strange response, I don’t mind critisism or alternative views at all, I’m here to learn and investigate subjects. But, your unfounded comment appears to be getting a bit personal and way off the mark, possibly immature. Maybe you are just tired, grumpy and posting without thinking, we all screw up time to time. It’s ok.
In realty, you have zero knowledge about how I view myself, that was a preposterous thing for you to state, we have never even met. You also have zero knowledge about my level of education on any subject at all. I’m very analytical, it is my nature.
I prefer to selflessly help people. I’m only interested in the truth.
I woke up to nationalistic ideology and indoctrination a long time ago, I don’t buy into any of it no matter what nation it is. People can say whatever they like about any nation they like, so long as it’s fact. I don’t get emotional or irritated by it at all.
Boobah
Look it up yourself, plenty of documented cases of slaves thrown overboard for cargo insurance payouts.
You know of any insurance company that is happy to pay out and not increase the premiums ?
Britain abolished slavery years before America did, although it did continue for years after it was passed in both nations. Part reason in Britain was because people working in the cotton factories found out what was happening on the plantations so, they went on strike in protest. If I remember right, that was thanks to Frederick Douglass, and good on him.
As for the RN, it’s 30+ years since I heard that story you mentioned so I don’t recall the details off hand. In saying that, who did the RN not harass on the high seas ?
David C: There was nothing in my comment that was meant as a personal insult. Nor was it criticizing anything beyond your comments themselves. As you say, I have zero knowledge of your education or background. All I know of you is what you have written here.
I was responding not to one comment but to my impression based on all your comments so far. This is the impression YOU gave me. I wrote in good will, to give you an outsider’s view of your writing and opinions. It was intended a criticism for making your writing more persuasive and effective.
Accept it or reject it, as you will. That’s your choice. But I return as always to Oliver Cromwell: “On the bowels of Christ, think it possible you might be mistaken.”
David C – I doubt those former slaves called it harassment.
The Royal Navy (RN) established the West Africa Squadron to patrol the coast & intercept slave ships under the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. Upon capturing a slave ship, the RN would 1st ensure the safety & well-being of the enslaved people on board, provide medical attention & basic necessities, as many of the people were in poor health due to the harsh conditions of their journey.
The crew of the slave ship would be arrested & taken into custody. The RN would then seize the ship & its cargo & the vessel would often be repurposed to serve in the West Africa Squadron.
The former slaves would be liberated & taken to a British colony, such as Sierra Leone or St. Helena, where they would be safe from recapture. Some of those liberated would be enlisted in the British military or apprenticed to learn a trade, while others would be given the opportunity to start a new life as free people.
These actions by the RN were instrumental in the eventual decline & end of the transatlantic slave trade.
And the RN’s actions were what drove up the price of maritime insurance. It didn’t happen in isolation. Truly amazing things like that have to be explained to the self-righteous and ignorant like another poster. They know a lot less than they think they do.
Just came upon this Lincoln quote:
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
Got power? Got character? Most fail the test.
And IMO character does not mean morality, because if you have power, you are necessarily required to be moral.
Character is more about a Stoic strength where someone can make the correct decision without apology and takes care of the business at hand.
And lives with the consequences and moves into the future.
Correction:
“And IMO character does not mean morality, because if you have power, you are not necessarily required to be moral.”
Two different things.