Thoughts upon reading, Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin by Rebecca Moll
"United We Stand, Divided We Fall." Aesop (6th Century, BC)
This time-tested quote came to mind this morning, upon reaching page 482 in Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals and Lincoln's infamous Empancipation Proclamation.
January 1, 1863.
It is interesting that in events leading up to this famous proclamation, Lincoln actually called for a resettlement of the negro in Central America, on the premises of incompatibility of the races. It is also interesting, that with his one, very clear, objective to save the Union at the cost of the slave or the freedom of the slave, whichever preserves the Union, Lincoln's initial plan of setting the stage for favorable reception of his proclamation by resettlement of the negro, a plan designed in division, was not only vehemently opposed by free black citizens and white men sympathetic to the cause, but folly in retrospect.
It is in error that we often learn our greatest lesson.
Upon division, remains but a fraction.
One of Lincoln's biggest fears was the watchful eyes across the pond. Europe stood waiting and watching, still very much an enemy less than a century past the revolution, England still licking it's wounds, ready to pounce, not to mention its demand for cotton and the interruption of commerce. European interference would surely fractal the great Democratic experiment.
Uncle Sam was yet, but a babe.
This singular proclamation of emancipation, in many ways only words to larger cause of slavery, the negro still very much subjected to the horrors of his predicament for many years to come, was a catalyst for unification. Never for the South, yet bound by the South, the negro slave of 1863 was essentially, homeless. The emancipation proclamation gave them a home, a place to stand, uniting them with the North, if only in the sense of the words.
Of course, historians will cite proof and reasons for why this proclamation was designed for anything but the slave and that may be so, but I believe that it is often not the objective that gives a cause it's momentum, but the subjective, catalyzing, energyzing, empowering.
Once in the mix, betwixt, the fever comes quick.
The greatest power of people is in unity.
We are a world power today, because of our unity.
What would our country be today, if we lost the war? I doubt we would have any recognizable North and South, anymore than Europe or the Middle East. Divided, we would have fallen, fallen we would have been conquered, conquered we would have been rendered mere spoils of war, there for the taking. Can you imagine the outcome of WWII, if the Union was lost during the Civil War? If you can't, ask someone from Poland, Hungary, North Korea...It is likely, Communism would not be a description reserved for other countries.
Merit abounds for opposition and argument, that is true, in opinion and action, healthy, justifiable. Unity for the mere sake of unity is empty, false. The pendulum swings far left and far right before settling center. Yet, unity must be always be remembered. Agree to disagree. Revisit, reconsider, reinvent and the possibilities are endless. Rebirth, evolve, and re-establish. This is not history, but independent of time, altruistic: Together we stand.
"What do you stand for?" Or should I say,
"What do WE stand for?"
This time-tested quote came to mind this morning, upon reaching page 482 in Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals and Lincoln's infamous Empancipation Proclamation.
January 1, 1863.
It is interesting that in events leading up to this famous proclamation, Lincoln actually called for a resettlement of the negro in Central America, on the premises of incompatibility of the races. It is also interesting, that with his one, very clear, objective to save the Union at the cost of the slave or the freedom of the slave, whichever preserves the Union, Lincoln's initial plan of setting the stage for favorable reception of his proclamation by resettlement of the negro, a plan designed in division, was not only vehemently opposed by free black citizens and white men sympathetic to the cause, but folly in retrospect.
It is in error that we often learn our greatest lesson.
Upon division, remains but a fraction.
One of Lincoln's biggest fears was the watchful eyes across the pond. Europe stood waiting and watching, still very much an enemy less than a century past the revolution, England still licking it's wounds, ready to pounce, not to mention its demand for cotton and the interruption of commerce. European interference would surely fractal the great Democratic experiment.
Uncle Sam was yet, but a babe.
This singular proclamation of emancipation, in many ways only words to larger cause of slavery, the negro still very much subjected to the horrors of his predicament for many years to come, was a catalyst for unification. Never for the South, yet bound by the South, the negro slave of 1863 was essentially, homeless. The emancipation proclamation gave them a home, a place to stand, uniting them with the North, if only in the sense of the words.
Of course, historians will cite proof and reasons for why this proclamation was designed for anything but the slave and that may be so, but I believe that it is often not the objective that gives a cause it's momentum, but the subjective, catalyzing, energyzing, empowering.
Once in the mix, betwixt, the fever comes quick.
The greatest power of people is in unity.
We are a world power today, because of our unity.
What would our country be today, if we lost the war? I doubt we would have any recognizable North and South, anymore than Europe or the Middle East. Divided, we would have fallen, fallen we would have been conquered, conquered we would have been rendered mere spoils of war, there for the taking. Can you imagine the outcome of WWII, if the Union was lost during the Civil War? If you can't, ask someone from Poland, Hungary, North Korea...It is likely, Communism would not be a description reserved for other countries.
Merit abounds for opposition and argument, that is true, in opinion and action, healthy, justifiable. Unity for the mere sake of unity is empty, false. The pendulum swings far left and far right before settling center. Yet, unity must be always be remembered. Agree to disagree. Revisit, reconsider, reinvent and the possibilities are endless. Rebirth, evolve, and re-establish. This is not history, but independent of time, altruistic: Together we stand.
"What do you stand for?" Or should I say,
"What do WE stand for?"
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