I'd been thinking about diarying this today for a while. Having seen Tamifah's simple, excellent diary of the
Declaration of Independence, I decided to go ahead and do it.
It is readily apparent that for all the bloviating about patriotism and freedom by pundits, talking heads, and politicians these days, there is a fundamental lack of understanding of the meaning of some of the foundational documents that symbolize all the United States are meant to be. It is also clear that a substantial number of kossacks agree that is important for Americans to be familiar with the content of these documents.
I hope that what follows will be familiar to most (if not all) of you.
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.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate --- we can not consecrate --- we can not hallow --- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us --- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion --- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain --- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom --- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Abraham Lincoln spoke these words on November 19, 1863. So why should we remember them today of all days?
The Battle of Gettysburg, widely regarded as one of the most significant battles of the Civil War and a major turning point in the war, ended one hundred forty-three years ago today. Had the Confederacy won, it is likely the United States would look very different today. I'll not rehash the old myth many of us from Northern states were taught in school that the Civil War was fought primarily over the issue of slavery, but it is undeniable that had the war ended differently, slavery would have continued. Indeed, slavery was one of the key wedge issues of the day, dividing the population sharply in a way not so different from the way we are told "cultural" issues divide us today. And yet today, hardly anyone still believes slavery is acceptable, and those who do aren't quite dumb enough to admit it.
Today, we have other issues that divide us. Abortion, healthcare, education, stem cell research, immigration, war, poverty, taxes, the environment -- the list goes on and on. And yet tomorrow, whatever our differences, most of us will still celebrate the birth of our country.
I mentioned yesterday in Pastor Dan's weekly prayer diary that the Israelis have a tradition for the day before their Independence Day, which not coincidentally happens to be their Memorial Day. They memorialize all the people who have given their lives for the country, whether in the IDF or in terrorist attacks. The evening before Memorial Day at 8 p.m., a siren is sounded all over the country for one minute. For that minute, all Israeli citizens stop what they are doing and stand in silence. Even if they are driving their cars at the time, they pull over to the side of the road, park, and get out of their cars. The following morning at 11 a.m., the ritual is repeated for two minutes. I'm not interested in discussing here the various merits and faults of the State of Israel; no matter what your feelings about Israel, this is a laudable tradition.
Accordingly, I humbly ask that everyone take some time today to remember all those who have given their lives for this country. Ponder Lincoln's words.
Remember especially that they gave their lives so that "government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth."
Remember that "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us... that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain."
Remember that our soldiers go where they are ordered, not where they choose to go.
And above all, BushCo policy to the contrary, remember that they are not just a number.
Cross posted at Street Prophets.