Today's MOZEN: Where is Mr. Lincoln?

1 of 2 known photos of Lincoln at Gettysburg (photo: M. Brady?)

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 it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. 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 gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (* entire address is below)

On November 19th, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln uttered these legendary words of consolation and reconciliation during the dedication of the National Cemetery for those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country at the Battle of Gettysburg which raged on July 1,2, and 3rd of that same year. In a mere 2 minutes - yes, TWO minutes - Lincoln was able to codify the complex range of factors that was tearing the Country apart and the sacrifices necessary to save it. Even though the Civil War would be fought for almost another 2 years, these profound words began the healing process we so desperately needed.

It was the first time an American President attended a ceremony at a National Cemetery to honor our war dead. The tradition continues to this very day.

THIS is what GREAT leaders do - they utter the right words at the right time!

Now, we have a President who seems actually incapable of uniting us. In fact, Mr. Trump seems bent on finding ways to separate us.

On November 11th, France's President, Emmanuel Macron, invited the world to Paris for an International Day of Peace to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the ending of WWI, The War to End All Wars. As part of that commemoration, the leaders of all the great Western nations, including President Trump, made plans to visit the various cemeteries around Paris to honor those who perished in that horrible conflict.

Well, ALL of them kept their respective appointments save one: Donald J. Trump. Apparently, the rain, that EVERY SINGLE OTHER leader managed to deal with, proved to be simply too much for OUR President. It seems the low cloud cover prevented his military helicopter from flying to the location. And, quoting "logistical difficulties"  he was not able to arrange for ground transportation - this despite the fact members of his own staff like Gen. John Kelly, managed to organize a caravan and attend the ceremonies.

Trump in Paris/CNN

It should be noted that Mr. Trump did attend a solemn ceremony the next day at a cemetery containing American war dead. However, it was too little, too late. The opportunity to heal a divided Nation, as Lincoln so brilliantly did nearly 155 years ago was LONG GONE. Instead, as his custom, he created division AND derision with his insistence of not America First but, rather, TRUMP FIRST.

This was a theme that France's Macron picked on to call out Mr. Trump's folly, suggesting that true Patriotism has nothing to do with Nationalism. He calls for a world that acknowledges the history and culture of individual nations while at the same time welcomes and ACCEPTS the differences in others. It's a concept that Mr. Trump either doesn't understand, or accept. And, it's shameful.





* Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on 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 on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, 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 it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. 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 gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863

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