Lancaster County PA Realty Check: An Homage to Abraham Lincoln

You raise some excellent points, Brian.  I didn't even realize it was Lincoln's birthday today, yet I remember celebrating it as a young school girl.  I agree, combining it all into one "President's Day" really does dilute what these great leaders have accomplished.  It's quite a shame. 

You're right, Jeannie.  And I wonder whether children today are still taught in school the same history and civics lessons that were imbued in us.

Brian -As we get older and we slowly evolve we become history ourselves if we do not remember those in our history how can we expect others to remember us in their history.

Brian, the Presidents Day combined Washington's (Feb. 22) and Lincoln's (Feb. 12th). It does dilute the meaning behind each great man I agree. Read that Gettysburg address again. Powerful stuff.

Kathy, as the philosopher George Santayana said, "Those who cannot understand history are doomed to repeat it."

Gary, although Presidents Day was originally conceived to consolidate Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays, by the very name of it, it refers to no President in particular, thus further diluting the meaning of the holiday.

The Gettysburg Address is one of the finest pieces of oratory ever written.  Shallow people at the time said it wasn't long enough.  Compare the importance and beauty of the concise Gettysburg Address with the multi-thousand-page Federal Tax Code.

Brian,

Abe Lincoln was a truly amazing man.....one of great and admirable character.  Those kinds of men are few and  far between and, unfortunately, most of them don't go into politics.

I'm glad you wrote this article about him.

Jo 

Jo,

Abraham Lincoln is one of the people I have most admired ever.  The more you read his speeches, quotes and writings, the more you have to respect the wit and insight he had.  I have a small collection of books about him, including a rare leather-bound memoriam published in 1866, shortly after his assassination.

Brian

Greatest President, A Man Of Faith And Principles. Wonderful Post.

Lincoln most of all was a man of perseverance.  Apparently he lost, way more elections than he won.  But he never gave up.

Nicholas, indeed Abraham Lincoln was in many ways the greatest President.  Thanks for commenting.

Trey, Lincoln's later life was tortuous, between losing a wife, losing a son, suffering the ridicule of his contemporaries, and agonizing over the war.  But with principles and faith, he persevered.

Yes, for sure, with principles and faith. Before he was assassinated he said he wanted to visit the Holy Land after his presidency. Apparently, he never made the trip, he went to the New Jerusalem instead.

Nicholas, I had not heard that he wanted to go to the Holy Land after his presidency.  How ironic.

Brian, I think one of the things we can learn the most from Abraham Lincoln is his commitment and persistence. These are things that can not be taught, yet can be learned, and when applied greatness always follows. Abe, if you looked at his record was a major loser, yet, excellence is found in the future successes, not in the past falls.

Well put, Stephen.  Part of his greatness was that he would not give up at any cost to save the union and its constitution.

Brian,

Thanks for this reminder.  I will have to dig out one of my Lincoln books, I think it is called Lincoln on Leadership.  Great book!  Sorry I just saw this post.  Thanks!

John, when I have time, there are some Lincoln books that I'd like to read again, too.  One of the best was "Lincoln the Unknown", I think by Wallace Nutting, now long out of print.  Written in the 1930s, it tells about his rocky personal life.  It can still probably be found in places like Amazon.com for used books.

Never thought about this way, but with all the politics that goes on in this country I'm sure there was a really bad reason behind the decision to combine the two birthdays in to one crappy holiday and dis-honor both men.

Is there a way we can get it switched back to two separate holidays I wonder?

Todd,  as far as I can tell,  Congress combined Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays because they were too close together.  By doing so they lost the significance of the holiday.

Great lesson Brian regarding the man and our Congress. You made me look for more information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President's_day 

Again, I love this type of information. I use to read the encyclopedia when I was a kid. AR was addictive enough without this fun stuff! 

 Thanks, Tara.  I often go to Wikipedia or other sources to double check or add to my information.  I'm glad I'm not the only one who enjoys researching information and history.