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 November 19, 1863
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Thank you for posting this. I have a copy of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address on my bulletin board at home and read it often. It is a poignant reminder of the fragility of our nation. Especially in these times.
“Interesting Times” as we lurch onward thru History. Thanks for this bedrock post, at this “interesting” point in our nation’s own history. Unknown origin, but I appreciate the observation: ‘In tyrannical governments, the Future is certain, and History is always changing.’ And I recall when Lily Tomlinson commented: ‘If only we would listen, History would stop repeating itself.’
It is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday today. Born February 12, 1809. Died April 15, 1865. Age 56
Still incredibly moving and appropriate for these troubled times.
We are a new nation, ..dedicated to the proposition that all men [female ones and dark ones ..] are created equal.
.. We are testing whether such a nation, .. can endure.
Our national essence is aspirational and forever unfinished,
“the great task remaining before us..”
The ‘honored dead’ of Gettysburg were of equal numbers, North and South. The Address occurred on the battlefield just 4 months after those three July days of killing. The war ended a year from the following April, the author shot one year later. These facts humble our present rhetoric.