President Obama's Handwritten Tribute to the Gettysburg Address

[sheshe2]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/president-obamas-handwritten-tribute-gettysburg-address?utm_source=snapshot&utm_medium=email&utm_content=111913-share

[NYC_SKP]

1. Oh shivers!

What I wouldn't do for a copy of that....

Mmmmmm!

[sheshe2]

2. Hi Skp~

Oh, I would love a copy myself. Sweet~

[Cha]

3. Thank you for the Letter from President Obama, she.. his tribute to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address~

I had trouble reading it so I found a copy typed out. Yay

In the evening, when Michelle and the girls have gone to bed, I sometimes walk down the hall to a room Abraham Lincoln used as his office. It contains an original copy of the Gettysburg Address, written in Lincoln's own hand.

I linger on these few words that have helped define our American experiment: "a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

Through the lines of weariness etched in his face, we know Lincoln grasped, perhaps more than anyone, the burdens required to give these words meaning. He knew that even a self evident truth was not self executing; that blood drawn by the lash was an affront to our ideals; that blood drawn by the sword was in painful service to those same ideals.

He understood as well that our humble efforts, our individual ambitions, are ultimately not what matter; rather, it is through the accumulated toil and sacrifice of ordinary men and women -- those like the soldiers who consecrated that battlefield -- that this country is built, and freedom preserved. This quintessentially self made man, fierce in his belief in honest work and the striving spirit at the heart of America, believed that it falls to each generation, collectively, to share in that toil and sacrifice.

Through cold war and world war, through industrial revolutions and technological transformations, through movements for civil rights and women's rights and workers rights and gay rights, we have. At times, social and economic change have strained our union. But Lincoln's words give us confidence that whatever trials avoid us, this nation and the freedom we cherish can, and shall, prevail.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/19/barack-obama-gettysburg-address_n_4305615.html

It's compelling, she. It encourages and inspires that we will keep going forward no matter how many obstacles are thrown in our way. Especially with leaders like President Barack Obama who appreciates and takes to heart a leader like Abraham Lincoln. None of them perfect but gifted with a vision for what our country could be if we all just keep fighting for it.

"This quintessentially self made man, fierce in his belief in honest work and the striving spirit at the heart of America, believed that it falls to each generation, collectively, to share in that toil and sacrifice."

Our President is that self made man who has taken it upon himself to leave America better for our children and theirs. And, why wouldn't we want to help in that endeavor!

[sheshe2]

4. Thank you for finding a copy, it was hard to read, I was able to

only after a few readings. Kudos Cha, I looked for one but could not find it.

In an imperfect world, we could never expect perfection. Yet you are right.

"None of them perfect but gifted with a vision for what our country could be if we all just keep fighting for it."

“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.”
― Leonard Cohen

We will keep moving forward, as Leonard Cohen said, the cracks let in the light. We can move forward to the light, it will heal us. Backwards is not an option, it only leads to darkness and despair.

My dear Cha~

[Cha]

5. "That's how the light gets in".. that made

laugh and tear at the same blinkin' time!

Wonderfully insightful thoughts from Leonard Cohen..

mahalo, she!

[IrishAyes]

8. Leonard Cohen's the best songwriter ever, and singer too.

He spent something like a decade as a Buddhist monk before returning to music, and the difference between the latter period and his earlier music is profound. How many songwriters do we have who so compellingly blend the spiritual with the widely popular? Rare gift indeed.

[sheshe2]

9. I started listening in college, he was wonderful, Irish.

I think I have to listen to him again. I have been out of touch.

[IrishAyes]

10. He wrote Anthem after 9/11, and much later, Halleleuja. His voice is like deep dark chocolate.

Mesmerizing beyond belief. It's also great that his music, even the overtly spiritual, appeals to atheists as well because it isn't religion-specific. Not like the Gaithers, for instance. He opens his mouth to sing and truth comes out. If I ever imagine a God-voice, though, it's his.

[sheshe2]

11. This gives me chills, Irish~

soooo very beautiful.

"theres a crack in everything thats how the light gets in"

[treestar]

7. Thanks for that!

Though the handwriting is quite clear (well, way more so than mine!) we are not used to reading cursive much nowadays!

[Cha]

12. Just wanted to add this painting of Lincoln at Gettysburg, she

Today is the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, delivered by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, and at 272 words long and taking 2 minutes to deliver, it is one of the most famous speeches in world history.

https://www.facebook.com/shealykathryn?viewer_id=100006671946220

[sheshe2]

13. Beautiful Cha!

I thank you.

Two minutes for a speech that changed a nation. Amazing!

[sheshe2]

14. Oh my,

BOG seems to be having a lot of "name removed" issues.

Amazing that they go through the whole process of becoming a member then get blasted away to oblivion on their attempts.

Ah they are poor wandering ones, Cha.