Why can't Lincoln be both an emancipator and prejudiced?



Source: Rob Tornoe

At the conference I just returned from, one of our discussions was about what makes for a good leader. We brainstormed and came up with these attributes:

• vision
• conviction
• inspiration
• determination
• opportunity
• time
• flexibility
• pragmatic
• opportunity/timing
• passion
• resilience 
• wisdom

That is a pretty solid list-we could add to it or hone it a little more, but overall...

Here is my question? Why isn't 'flip flopping' on there? One of the things one of the presenters talked about over and over again was 'change over time'--history is 'change over time'.  One of the questions we wrestled with was whether Abraham Lincoln was the Great Emancipator or did he have to be pushed into freeing the slaves. We looked at his speeches and writing as a legislator in Springfield. We looked at the Lincoln Douglas Debates. We looked at his presidential campaign. And finally, we looked at his presidency.

Source: The Civil War Trust

Source: Library of Congress

So, what was he? Did he free the slaves or was he the right guy at the right time whose assassination cemented his persona as the liberator of 4 million humans.

I'll let that marinate for a bit and come back to it at a later date.


Source: Jack Ohman

Here is the question I came away with... ...

Why can't we let leaders change their minds?

Look at the list. The ability to change their mind isn't on there. Yes, it can be seen in several of the traits. But we eschew leaders who flip flop. Maybe we are the issue and not the leader themselves. We seem to want them to have a 'conviction' and not change that conviction while leading. As if the idea was fully formed on the day of their first breath and it remains until their last. Political campaigns are riddled with candidates who were for something before they were against something.

I'm not suggesting that leaders let what is popular or what will get them elected be the 'deciderer'. I'm saying that many issues are complicated and we often force our leaders to offer an assessment before they've seen all the facts. If you read many presidential biographies, you see that, oftentimes, campaign rhetoric is based on information they don't have as a candidate. As president, they come under-fire for changing their position.

In keeping with this school year's theme, one of the things I want to do is explore this idea. Do we do more harm than good when we vote for a person based on one or two 'litmus tests'? One of the things it forces us to do as an electorate is to understand the issues ourselves. Not. Rachel Maddow or Sean Hannity. Not the RNC or DNC. Not the Tea Party or Move On.

Us.

As I said, I'm still letting it marinate myself. I would be interested in hearing what others think. Feel free to comment.

Took me to Old St. Louie...

On my final evening at the conference, we took a trip to St. Louis. Have been to St. Louis before but had never eaten at Paddy's BBQ--holy cow (or brisket as the case may be). I will be back.

 

Lincoln the 'States' Man

Lincoln is revered in Springfield.

 

Lincoln is big business in Springfield.

 

Springfield loves Lincoln.

 

Part of our trip was spent in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. It is built around two seemingly polar ideas. At the museum, there is an almost deification of the president. Wax models of his retinue, his image emblazoned on everything. The myth of Abraham Lincoln is alive and well on the museum side. Across the street is the library, where the myth and the reality are explored.

 

Remember, I said my mantra next year was, "Let's go exploring!" so I loved the library.

 

Our last stop in Springfield was the Old Capitol. Probably the best experience was exploring (there it is again) the House Divided in the ether Lincoln delivered it. I am still unpacking that experience and will write about it at a later time, but...loved, loved, loved it.

 

Again, here are photos from the ALPLM and Old Capitol. Will caption later.

 

This is actually on the SIUE campus. One of the few portraits of Lincoln smiling. Not sure I feel about this one.

 

 

Meeting Young Abe Lincoln...

 

We returned from Springfield at about 11 p.m. last night. We started at about 7:30 a.m. Any thing thoughtful... well, there is nothing thoughtful in my brain at this point. The photos are below from New Salem. Lincoln lived there for about six years. He arrives in New Salem as a young farm kid and leaves a lawyer. Its in New Salem where he serves as a merchant, postmaster, surveyor, and studied the law.

 

The Lincoln we know is, in many ways, formed in this community of about 200 on the Sagamon River.