Monday, February 27, 2012

Revision of "Abraham Lincoln: the Carefully Sanitized Liberator"

Robert Alexander, an author who enjoys researching about Abraham Lincoln and the U.S. Civil War, wrote to me about my article on Lincoln featured on my website. He liked the writing and could not knock the quotations, but after dialoguing with him, I will be adding the following:

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Post-Script

It has been brought to my attention, by freelance author Robert Alexander, that President Lincoln eventually abandoned his idea of establishing a separate colony for people of colour, and that the President grew very much in his esteem for the people in question, not least of all as a result of Lincoln's recognition of their military service during the American Civil War. Mr. Alexander also makes the fascinating point that if Lincoln were any more radically enlightened anti-racism-wise, the statesman probably never would have been voted in by the generally racist electorate of that day. Here I recall an example in relation to Mr. Alexander's point, and the relevant topic that he raises of inter-marriage. I note that even so much as the first "inter-racial" kiss (I, like the American Anthropological Association, repudiate the scientific status of so-called "race") never happened in show business until the first Star Trek television series. It was in the episode entitled "Plato's Children," originally aired in 1968, more than a century after Lincoln died in 1865.

Mr. Alexander eloquently reflects:

Lincoln was not a static figure that can be defined by a certain set of quotes from a particular time period. He was always evolving, developing not only his intelligence but his moral character and sense of truth and justice. This incredible drive to continuously grow as a human being is, I believe, one of the greatest aspects of his character.

May we all aspire to evolve progressively, each in his or her own way.

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Thank you very much, Robert!

Cheers,

David

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