Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of the greatest presidents of the USA.
In an odd sort of synchronicty Abraham Lincoln has been popping up in my life, and linking what I generally regard as my disparate, or almost mutually exclusive, interests.
Thomas Friedman spoke the Melbourne Town Hall last week. We don’t have many NY Times correspondents coming through town so I was keen to attend his lecture. He was inspirational and thought provoking. Of the many ideas and opinions he shared, one that particularly intrigued me was that the best of America is “hidden in plain sight”. Friedman was explaining that the 20th century as the “century of America” and that we shouldn’t assume another nation will be the country of the the 21st century. There could be another century of America
I listened closely to hear what has made America great, what it is that is hidden in plain sight… He listed many great things about America that other countries can’t copy and reproduce: the Constitution, the Washington Monument, the Declaration of Independence, the Lincoln Memorial, and more. I could understand some of the greatness underscoring the American psyche while listening to Thomas Friedman on a Friday night in Melbourne.
By contrast, I caught part of the Letterman show during the week, and David Letterman made a joke about the Lincoln Memorial, with Abraham Lincoln stripped back to his underwear. Letterman was joking about necessary government cut-backs after the US debt ceiling resolution. Only I didn’t think it was very funny, something very prim in me was triggered while see President Lincoln’s memorial mocked.
That was Thomas Friedman’s point, in part. The freedom of speech enjoyed in America, is part of the greatness, anyone can poke fun at anyone. Freedom of speech is a part of what makes America great. Freedom of expression and freedom of association, there is freedom to make your own choices.
My recent links with Lincoln – with no pun intended – are Thomas Freidman’s lecture and David Letterman’s Show. In my conflict facilitation work, as well, Abraham Lincoln is something of a role model for leveraging diversity of opinion and views. He didn’t just argue with his political rivals he took them into cabinet and held them close, valuing their differing views – my hero!
I have a current film link with Abraham Lincoln too, as The Conspirator just opened here and one of my fellow FilmDudes enjoyed the movie.
As different parts of me and my differing interests intersect around Abraham Lincoln, I have to mention that he is also a hero of this site, this wonderersheart part of me. Abraham Lincoln was subjected to periods of profound depression throughout his life. He is often quoted for his understanding of the condition:“Remember in the depth and even the agony of despondency, that very shortly you are to feel well again.” or “A tendency to melancholy…. let it be observed, is a misfortune, not a fault.” he said.
I have quoted his amazing admission of suicidal thoughts previously in another post “I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on the earth. Whether I shall ever be better I can not tell; I awfully forebode I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or be better, it appears to me.”
Abraham Lincoln has been cropping up a lot around me and I hope he crops up more. I deeply admire the President who established universities, built rail roads, signed the Emancipation Proclamation during a Civil War, all the while as his own internal war raged.
Freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom to disagree, and equality for all appear to me as pillars President Lincoln stood proudly atop. They’re principles that are sometimes overlooked in the mental health system, concepts it is good to be reminded of.