Obama's Handwritten Tribute To The Gettysburg Address

[flpoljunkie]

READ: Obama's Handwritten Tribute To The Gettysburg Address

ZOE SCHLANGER – NOVEMBER 20, 2013, 9:46 AM EST

The White House on Tuesday released a hand-written essay President Barack Obama wrote in tribute to the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. Read it below:



http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/read-obama-s-handwritten-tribute-to-the-gettsyburg-address

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

1. I can only imagine...

...having the experience of sitting in that place and reading those words in an original. The president waxes eloquently on the message in his reflection.

[frazzled]

2. An incredible piece of writing that reveals a lot

Obama has always been a writer (even looking at the letters he wrote to girlfriends when he was in his early 20s, which we saw several years ago, this same style and eloquence was evident). But this brief essay reveals the very sophisticated--and personal--grasp he has on the philosophical issues he tackles in his effort to understand the arc of American history and the meaning of its democratic processes.

I think he will be remembered as the philosophical, literary president, if nothing else. That is his province. It's not to everyone's taste. But it will be historically distinctive.

[Myrina]

3. "the freedoms we cherish can, and shall prevail ... "

... except for the freedom from onerous debt, the freedom to assemble/protest, the freedom of choice, the freedom to vote, the freedom to live without fear of being shredded by an AK-47, the freedom of private communications, undue search & seizure (TSA anyone?) ...

I have been watching "Many Rivers To Cross" on PBS and found it sadly striking that many of the tactics used by the Civil Rights marchers in the 50's and 60's are now 'illegal' or can get you arrested, fined or pepper sprayed.

What has become of us?

[DFab420]

4. Only three posts deep to get to the turd bowler..

Thanks for your time. We appreciate your complete lack of context and tact.

[zipplewrath]

8. I would have put it differently

I understand the posters reaction, but I thought of it a bit differently.

Lincoln actually said and did some things, early in his presidency, that doesn't reflect well on him these days. Discussions about moving slaves back to Africa. Statements about their competence and intellegence. Ultimately he came full circle towards emancipation. Also, if you read his second inaugural, it does appear as if he is well weary of war, and even seems to suggest some regret about the conduct.

Lincoln was a complex man at a complex time, and in many ways he probably wasn't up to the job, especially at first. Much of the adoration paid him these days is due to his assassination. It is interesting that Obama has seemed to focus on him during his presidency, that always disturbed me a bit.

Obama writes nice, but it is interesting that he seemed to either miss, or ignore, how his own words would sound to someone quite critical of Obama. None the less, I thought it was an appropriate way in general to acknowledge the anniversary.

[ancianita]

5. Well done, Mr. President.

[Sunlei]

6. thumbs up Mr. President!

[Hosnon]

7. I love his handwriting. nt.