November 19, 1863
(as inscribed on the interior of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.)
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 battlefield 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 cannot dedicate – we cannot consecrate – we cannot 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.
Learn more about the address.
Keith says:
To Devlin: Air fares on one way tickets to another country are reasonable right now. Bye-bye!
5 August 2009
Anna Marie Dunn says:
Lucky for Delvin we live in a country that allows commentary without FEAR of retaliation.
5 August 2009
Scott says:
I would have to agree with Steve on this one Devlin. You may also want to open a Word Document first to type your comments then do a spell check in future posts. You have a lot of passion in your thoughts, but when you miss-spell things it takes away from that passion. Best to you.
5 August 2009
Steve says:
Devlin. Read your History books. Although the Civil War was the bloodiest war in American History, it was far from the bloodiest war in Human History. Makes the rest of everything you have written questionable. One big problem with your entire paragraph – it lacks facts.
5 August 2009
Tony says:
Devlin, there’s a big difference between “seceding” from the union and “succeeding” from the union.
5 August 2009
Devlin says:
I think this speech is empty and lame. The history worship by which people now think that Lincoln had no choice but to slaughter one tenth of the population, to wage the bloodiest war in human history – up to that moment, simply because certain states decided to excercise their constitutional right to succeed from the union, is apalling.
Lincoln was a bi polar sociopath who in addition to slaughtering all those kids, burning those towns, imprisoning even northern members of the press for their criticism, also essentially distroyed our constituion leading us down the path of tyranny the final steps of which we are taking now.
5 August 2009
Emilio Pages says:
Wow, this speech embodies Lincoln’s greatness as a man, what vision. Emilio C. Pages
5 August 2009