Allen Guelzo: "Lincoln Lecture Series: The Spiritual Side of Lincoln"

[@DavidStern345]

Lincoln was one of the greatest men to ever live. The reason why the Emancipation Proclamation was only partial was due to needing to keep certain slave states that were not in rebellion on the Union side, it was only a wartime measure. He proceeded too slowly for some because of the immense obstacles and the responsibility of having the reins of power. It was very touch and go as it looked like he and the Union would go down to defeat at this second election. But by the time the war was clearly being won he went ahead to get slavery fully abolished with the 13th Amendment, as told in Spielberg's great movie. In that movie, there is a great scene in which he describes if you want to go north, and you go due north without taking into account the swamps, you will be in trouble. This was his metaphor for how he worked. He had always abhorred slavery, but was constrained by having to win elections and the forces opposing him. That's why he was too slow for the abolitionists. Yet had he not been so cautious he might have not attained this great victory of emancipation. What happened afterward in the Reconstruction was not his fault, since he didn't live to see it. So it is unfortunate that people saw him so negatively as discussed in this lecture, because it misses who he really was, and the immense personal burden and sacrifice he had to bear to save the union and free the slaves. One of the single greatest accomplishments in history, he was at the vanguard of liberty for the entire planet at the time as there were no other democracies then. One would do well to read his speeches on liberty, they are tremendous. It is understandable that the African Americans were dissatisfied with the results in succeeding generations, but were it not for him, they might never have been freed. Martin Luther King came to help further their cause, but surely he would have had to start much further back if Lincoln had never emancipated the slaves. Lincoln was a man of genius who understood slavery, tyranny and liberty, and greatly advanced the latter cause.

[@ATT-02]

Very well said, I couldn’t agree more with what you’ve commented on.

[@sashek8451]

I don’t know why but something about his speaking style reminds me of so many priests at church or professors and I keep falling asleep as much as I love Lincoln history. And the speaker’s words are actually quite compelling.

[@ATT-02]

If you put yourself in the position of the slave back in 1863, you were considered a nobody. You were no better then a hog, or a chicken. Your family’s were split up and your sons and daughters were taken away from their mothers, never to be seen again. Then this man Lincoln comes along and says, this is not right. You are now free and you and your family’s can now live together under one roof and partake in the American dream. Can you understand what the impact this had on black x slaves? It was the greatest thing that could’ve happened to them. That’s why Lincoln meant so much to them. He got it done and that’s all that mattered to them.

[@carolbell8008]

Those great men were appointed by God for this destiny! They have few equals in History. Their courage, intelligence,education,energy, determination are clearly evident. I hero worship them for what they accomplished. God bless them!Lincoln had nothing to lose and everything to gain and Davis had everything to lose and nothing to gain. This era is fascinating! Professor Guelzo is a great communicator!! He makes learning fun!

[@TheMorning_Son]

Yes

[@ashaabraham8054]

Then God called King David, a man after his own heart" Worm". To know that God is not slack in his words which words manifested on King Herod , when he was eaten up by worms formed in him, Kings, Queens, Presidents , man itself before God are but worm's then & now, whatever one may say. From dust thou art & to dust thou return, by SIN, but to die in Christ.

[@ДмитрийДепутатов]

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