Jon Meacham’s ‘Lincoln’s Example, And Our Task to Protect Democracy’ a Plea to We The People
On Tuesday, November 8th are the “Mid-term Elections,” our first national elections since the violent, murderous mob stormed the Capitol on January 6th in an attempted coup to overturn the will of the people.
Three days later, on November 11th we pay tribute to the men and women who have put on our nation’s uniform in service to America, in protection of democracy, and in defense of our Constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic.
Eleven days later, November 19th is the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s immortal “Gettysburg Address” in which the President of a divided waring nation said,
“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.”
The synchronicity let alone significance of these three historical events should not be lost on anyone. Our nation or at least the very thing, the very concept or ideal that people have served, fought, and died for from its inception is at stake – democracy.
But what happens next; defending it against domestic enemies; choosing democracy or autocracy – it all comes down to We The People.
On CBS Sunday Morning, “Historian Jon Meacham, author of “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle,” talks about how the 16th president faced an election during the Civil War, when the continuation of democracy was still an open question – and how it resonates with the first post-insurrection midterm election.”
(Main image: screen capture)
