An Ode to Abe and Speechmaking

Happy President's Day!

In honor of my favorite President, I am treating you to a few of my favorite Abe quotes. I am also attaching a video of Sam Waterston's rendition of Lincoln's Cooper-Union Address, which was arguing against the expansion of slavery into the territories. It is long, yes, but wonderful. I wish someone would re-enact the Lincoln-Douglass Debates. Sigh.

"Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason that Lord makes so many of them."- Letter to John Hay

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."- Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

"I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot." Remarks at the Monogahela House

"...that we here highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863

"Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invoked His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes." Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

"Whenever I hear any one arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally." Speech to One Hundred Fortieth Indiana Regiment, March 17, 1865

"The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me." Speech on the Sub-Treasury, December 26, 1839

"My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To his care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell." Lincoln's Farewell Address at the Great Western Depot in Springfield, Illinois, February 11, 1861

The Wall of Separation

In the 1960 presidential election, Republican Richard Nixon was running against Democrat John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was a Catholic and Nixon was a Quaker. The topic of religion became a hot button issue in light of Kennedy's Catholic faith. Many Americans were concerned that if Kennedy was elected, the foreign Pope would have undue influence on American politics. In response to this fear, Kennedy gave a speech before a group of Houston ministers arguing that:

I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote; where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference; and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the president who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.

I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish; where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source; where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials; and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.

President Kennedy certainly made valid points during his speech. However, on the whole, Kennedy's speech reveals that he has misinterpreted the meaning of "the wall of separation."

Theologian of the Month: Augustine of Hippo

It's February and I don't know about you, but for me, February is a pretty depressing month. It is sandwiched between January, which holds abundant promise for the new year and March, which brings St. Patrick's Day and my birthday. So what does February have to offer? In my experience, not much, but today I am going to remedy that problem: I am introducing my Theologian of the Month! So without further delay, let me present St. Augustine....