Lincoln's Birthday

The following e-mail was originally posted on February 12, 2018

Once upon a time, we celebrated February 12 as a national holiday in honor of Abraham Lincoln, quite possibly, our greatest president.  But we no longer do that now.  Today we celebrate "Presidents' Day", ostensibly in honor of both Lincoln and George Washington, but arguably in honor of all the men who have served in that capacity over the last 229 years.  Our transformation of Lincoln's Birthday celebration into a generic Presidents' Day seems to be proving more and more problematic in my mind, especially, in comparison with the recent utterances coming forth from the current occupant of the office.  Perhaps, it would be more beneficial for the nation to return to a time when we spent a day (February 12) reflecting on a man who actually possessed character and humility and who displayed humanity towards the downtrodden and forgotten.  Maybe then we would encourage future generations to emulate his example and produce such leaders of their own. Maybe ... maybe. 

But even if the nation does not agree, then perhaps, we as individuals can. 

And so, on this my first official unofficial Abraham Lincoln Remembrance Day, I offer these two Lincoln quotes for others to reflect on as well:  

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

“The people — the people — are the rightful masters of both congresses, and courts — not to overthrow the constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.”

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

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