Lincoln: Chapter 3

In the fight against slavery, the party always questioned how strongly to push the issue in order to get everyone on board. The abolitionists, although correct, were viewed as crazy extremists who had an unrealistic view of things. Many chose instead to first end the expansion of slavery and make small compromises along the way.

From a human rights perspective - my apologies for using old rhetoric - how does this approach compare to the modern idea of abortion reduction? If the goal is to end abortion, what sort of compromises are acceptable along the way to bring everyone on board and truly promote a culture change? Slavery was abolished a decade later in 1863, but the victims of this old societal view were still fighting for their civil rights in the 1960's and to a lesser extent today. How long are we willing to wait for truth and justice to prevail?

Interesting quote from Lincoln: "I do not mean to say that this general government is charged with the duty of redressing or preventing all the wrongs in the world; but I do think it is charged with the duty of preventing and redressing all the wrongs which are wrongs to itself."

I want hair like Lincoln

Today I read chapter two. This book is more of an in-depth analysis of the political environment in which Lincoln worked. It is great to see this backdrop as opposed to simply getting dates and facts from Lincoln's life and having to draw connections ourselves...as if the average reader ever does.

I was amused today to see Carwardine use the word "evangelical" in context of the 19th century. Then I looked in the front of the book and noticed his other two books are entitled Evangelicals and Politics in Antebellum America and Transatlantic Revivalism: Popular Evangelicalism in Britain and America, 1790-1865 . I suppose he's a bit of an expert.

This chapter dealt specifically with 1854-1858 when the Whig party ceased to exist and the Republican party was born. Some of the standards the Republican party stood for: restoration of the Missouri Compromise, upholding Fugitive Slave Law, noninterference with existing slave States, extolling religious toleration, and opposing public funding for parochial Catholic schools.

This time period also saw the foundation of a new party: the Know Nothings. How's that for a party name?! Carwardine jokes on their potential rewrite of the Declaration of Independence to read "All men are created equal, except for negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics."

As far as the Democratic party goes, this is what he had to say regarding their view of slavery.

In practice their party silenced them by asserting the unfitness of time and place, whatever the circumstances. "You must not say anything about it in the free states, because it is not there. You must not say anything about it in the slave states, because it is there. You must not say anything about it in the pulpit, because that is religion and has nothing to do with it. You must not say anything about it in politics, because that will disturb the security of 'my place.'"

"Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today."

Well I started off reading Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power. It doesn't follow the typical biographical style of highlighting his life chronologically. Instead, the first chapter deals with his political vision and ambition (not light reading). I thought I'd write on some of the things that stood out to me in chapter one.

In youth group this week, we talked about honor and what it means. I'm impressed by Lincoln's example of this as even in his more bitter disputes and disappointments, he maintained a cordial approach to life and boosted his own respected reputation as a result. Carwardine describes him as both humble to a fault and persistent in achieving political success. How does one manage to combine these in a realistic modern world?

Being a Christian myself, Lincoln's faith is of particular interest to me. Lucky for me, a good portion of my reading spoke on the topic, although not in the way I anticipated. Carwardine first suggests that to regard Lincoln's religious views as part of his success story is inaccurate and unnecessary. He then describes how Lincoln's brand of Christianity doesn't fit in with what I've grown up to understand from what I've read previously. We read here how he's been claimed today as part of many religious traditions including Quakers, Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Masons, Unitarians, Universalists, and even Spiritualists all based on vaious experiences Lincoln had and statements he made. The peers of his day didn't seem to think he held to any particular religious belief. Though he was educated in Scripture and quoted it when appropriate, he didn't necessarily believe the Bible as divine and also entertained many skeptic views. As many faith journeys are woven, his was a life of questioning and revising his belief system. I wonder if in 150 years, the Christian church will be hailing Obama as one of the great American fathers of faith. Oh! And will someone please explain to me what Arminianized Calvinism is? I've often referred to myself as an Arminianist Calvinist, but only as a joke because I adhere to neither view as a whole.

Part of Lincoln's reading list as a youth: John Bunyon's Pilgrim's Progress, the Bible, Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, Aesop's Fables, Parson Weems' Life of George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography.

Welcome readers and lazy people!

Unfortunately, I have been at this off and on for the last few years before deciding to blog on my progress, so I will be starting off my blog with the four books I just checked out today.

Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power by Richard Carwardine
The Abenaki by Colin G. Calloway
Heloise & Abelard: A New Biography by James Burge
Dog's Best Friend: Journey to the Roots of an Ancient Partnership by Birr, Krakauer, and Osiander. Translated from the original Abenteur Hund

As you can tell....I haven't made it very far yet, but I plan on living quite some time past now. I hope this will give you all a chance to discover some new reading material you may enjoy checking out for yourself. Feel free to follow along!