Originally posted by PhlabibitI think it speaks well of us as humans that we remember these great tragedies.
Yes, I guess we need to separate "celebrate" and "remembered".
P-
Americans have a unique ability to mourn these losses on both sides of many wars without politicizing the motives.
It is one of the things that makes us great.
Originally posted by Red NightYou mean great as in large, right?
I think it speaks well of us as humans that we remember these great tragedies.
Americans have a unique ability to mourn these losses on both sides of many wars without politicizing the motives.
It is one of the things that makes us great.
Originally posted by Red NightI'm sure Americans, and all Americans, are the only ones who can get above
Americans have a unique ability to mourn these losses on both sides of many wars without politicizing the motives.
It is one of the things that makes us great.
themselves that way. You saying that, says a whole lot about you, you know.
Originally posted by Red NightWhat a bunch of horsecrap. Unique? Both sides? Without politicizing?
Americans have a unique ability to mourn these losses on both sides of many wars without politicizing the motives.
It is one of the things that makes us great.
You shouldn't need to lie to describe positive things about Americans.
Originally posted by Red NightIf all Americans were like you, which I'm pretty certain they are not, I would say Americans have a unique ability to think of themselves as unique. 🙄
Americans have a unique ability to mourn these losses on both sides of many wars without politicizing the motives.
You all think you know Americans from watching some crappy movies and out-of-date televsion programs.
Forget Tom Cruise and listen to a great American:
"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon 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 battlefield 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 cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract."
Originally posted by Red NightAmen!
You all think you know Americans from watching some crappy movies and out-of-date televsion programs.
Forget Tom Cruise and listen to a great American:
"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged ...[text shortened]... g and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract."
"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."
Originally posted by Red NightAlso said by the same jerk in a September 18, 1858 debate:
You all think you know Americans from watching some crappy movies and out-of-date televsion programs.
Forget Tom Cruise and listen to a great American:
"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged ...[text shortened]... g and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract."
"I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And in as much as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race."
Originally posted by darvlayIt is difficult to judge historical figures using modern norms.
Also said by the same jerk in a September 18, 1858 debate:
"I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry wit ...[text shortened]... much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race."
Lincoln said the above during debates with Stephen Douglas.
He was attempting to soften the image of the Republican party as radical emancipationists.
Lincoln's subsequent actions speak far louder than these words.
And to call one of the great figures of the 19th century a jerk reduces your argument to that of an irrational polemic.