One nation . . .

[jlh]

So yesterday I read this column in the Washington post by EJ Dionne, written in reaction to our recent gubernatorial elections, talking about how our country is dividing into two parts along ideological lines--the whole red states and blue states thing--and he said:

It is 138 years since the Civil War ended. ... Up in heaven, Abe Lincoln must be shaking his head in astonishment. The country he sought to keep united is pulling apart politically, and largely along the same lines that defined Honest Abe's election victory in 1860.

His point seemed even more relevant in light of the reactions to yesterday's ruling in MA from those opposed to gay marriage, like, oh, my president. I was in bed this morning listening to Morning Edition on NPR and their coverage of the issue, and feeling once again rather depressed in general about the future of this country of ours (by the way, it is really difficult to amend the US Constitution) when the next story came on.

Turns out it was 140 years ago today that a group of people gathered on a field in southeastern PA to hear a very long speech from one of the great orators of the day, followed by a few words from the current president, Abraham Lincoln. These 267 words always make me feel a good deal better about this Great Experiment we call a country, and they seem particularly prescient today, so I will quote them in full--but you can also hear Sam Waterston read them.

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 battlefield 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 cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot 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.

Comments

[harlequincy.livejournal.com]

While it saddens me that our country is somewhat divided, I'm still happy that this war against homophobia is being fought. I'm disappointed in "Red America" for being so close-minded, but I'm overjoyed that "Blue America" is standing up for what is right.

Although amending the US Constitution is difficult, the good news is that it can be done. "Blue America" already has half of the electoral votes, and we need three quarters. We're not there yet, but we're moving in that direction.

It seems like our government is overly-conservative. But that's only true of the Bush administration. Keep in mind that they can only be in charge for a total of eight years. I'm thinking that by then, the country will feel it's time to have one of those mini-revolutions we like to call elections, and Bush will be replaced. He can't hold the country back from growing more liberal.

And it is growing more liberal. If through nothing else, these developments are seen through the popularity of certain television shows. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Queer as Folk, and Will & Grace, come to mind immediately. Being gay is in right now, so people who would otherwise be opposed to the idea, are now being influenced by a less prejudiced society.

In conclusion, I say that this division in the country is unfortunate. But it's better than us all turning into "Red Americans," isn't it? To me, the concept of a "Blue America" is a light at the end of the tunnel. Massachusetts spoke for us all in its decision to legalize gay marriage. Now, hopefully the other "Blue" governments will realize that, and follow Mass's lead. Thank God for "Blue America." Without it, I'd be ashamed to call myself an American.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thanks for such a thoughtful response! Sorry it's taken me a bit to reply.

Actually, I was referring to the movement in Congress to amend the constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. The Constitution is on the side of gay marriage, I think; it does specifically say that any rights not specifically taken away within it are held by the people. So.

Bush, I think, is less representative of Republicans as such and more of the sort of closed-minded folk that give Christianity a bad name, that forget that while this is a religious country that cannot be allowed within government, that we are not a theocracy, or we'd be in the same place as some of the countries we criticize.

I'm worried, actually, that there is a backlash coming. Popular culture is created by the "blue" states rather than the "red". Someone said once that what middle America liked about Seinfeld wasn't that they related to it, but that they liked laughing at the city people.

Your last sentiment I completely agree with. It gets tough, keeping that patriotism, when my country does horrible things in my name. I think Bush is actually a lousy, lousy president. But then I look around, and there are so many great things about this place, and so much potential for good, and that makes me feel a bit better!

[tocomfortyou.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for posting this! Reading the Address brightened my day.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Surely! Yes, it always makes me feel better, definitely.