Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon 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 here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it 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 can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not 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 can never forget what they did here.
It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. 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 here gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation 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. -
Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address 1863
History was made last night. No matter what your political leanings or vote, one cannot deny that last night was a moving night. I have chosen to not publicly post my political persuasions, but I couldn't resist posting Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. As Obama gave his acceptance speech last night I kept thinking of my history lessons in college. I thought, as I saw the red Southern States and the blue North, what it must have been like when Lincoln came to the Presidency with a nation wounded, broken, and divided. As I pondered these things I was surprised to hear Obama, putting my fuzzy thoughts into eloquent clarity, reference Lincoln. I couldn't help but to feel compassion for this man whose daughters are only a few years older than my own, and the job that is ahead of him. He has been worshipped as a hero, and many look to him for their salvation. I can't imagine what it would feel like to stand under this weight and these expectations. I pray for Obama, that he will have wisdom, that his dear family would be protected, and that our nation would rally to help make change and not just look to someone else to do it for us.
83% of Oregonians came out to vote in this election- a percentage which to me is astounding. In Oregon, we vote by mail-in ballot, so I actually voted from my living room sofa weeks ago. For the first time in my adult life I was able to sit down, wade through the issues, the ballots, the candidates - from President, to Oregon Senator, to Portland Public schools Measures, and VOTE. It was empowering to vote with knowledge and to really feel the freedom that we enjoy in this country. We enjoy incredible privileges and blessings for living here. It was exciting to watch the news last night, to watch history being made, and to see the hope that people have in coming out to participate in that system. Whatever one's opinion of Obama, it can be said that he has inspired something in a great number of people. I am reminded in this election of my failure not only to really care about my country, but to pray for her and for her leaders. May God give me the grace to care more and to give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy.
