Yes, He Did

Mr. Groundhog certainly saw his shadow in Louisville today!

God Bless You, Mr. Lincoln

President Abraham Lincoln, February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865

I first visited the cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born when I was about six years old. I really don’t remember the details of the visit—other than a lingering question in my mind: why did someone build a building around a building?

Since then, I have visited Lincoln’s Birthday Place National Site dozens of times. After all, it’s located less than 60 miles from Louisville. (59.7 miles from my house). It’s a neat little park, for picnicking and other (x-rated) things: I apologize, Mr. President, for making love at midnight on the grass in front of your birth place some 40 or so years ago. Of course, with your astounding grace, I rather suspect that you forgive me and even wink at me.

As a fellow Kentuckian whose birthday is but two days after his, I have read thousands of pages about President Lincoln. And with each page my respect and admiration has increased. So, today as a small celebration of the life of the Sixteenth President of the United States, allow me to share just of few of the words of President Abraham Lincoln:

"I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me."

"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day."

"Whenever I hear any one arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."

"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy."

"You think slavery is right and should be extended; while we think slavery is wrong and ought to be restricted. That I suppose is the rub. It certainly is the only substantial difference between us."

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan - to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

"...I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side."

"Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them."

"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration."

"Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser - in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man.”

"The demon of intemperance ever seems to have delighted in sucking the blood of genius and of generosity."

"I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot."

"It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: 'And this, too, shall pass away.' How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!"

"...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 this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

"I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal."

Abe Lincoln reads the Bible to his son, Tad

I don’t know where you plan to click to next. May I suggest that you continue the celebration of President Lincoln’s birthday by following THIS LINK to Kat’s blog, Keep the Coffee Coming, and invest a couple of minutes listening to this grand song celebrating the grace of President Lincoln on the occasion of the ending of the Civil War, Let the Band Play Dixie.

Insignificant Observations

Just a bit of codswallop, mates.

Today is Matt-Man’s birthday. Please click over to Bagwine Ruminations and wish the young man a happy one. OK?

I read in a biography of Charles Schultz that it wasn’t until after he introduced a cat to the cast of his Peanuts comic strip that he realized that he could not draw a cat. From that point on, the cat was always outside the pane.

Sometimes I have attempted to make a point by telling a story only to find my listeners looking at me with blank faces. Then, I usually say, I suppose you really had to be there.

An old college chum sent me this story:

I went to Wal-Mart to buy something and I gave the cashier my bank debit card to pay for it and the card was rejected.  I said, ok, let's do the USA Visa card, and that was rejected too.
 
That worried me a little, so I called my bank and they said that my card had been compromised along with a bunch of others and the bank had cancelled all of them.  They sent me a letter to that effect, however I didn't get that being, as I am, in Texas.  They will issue me a new bank debit card when I get back.
 
Then I called USAA and they told me they had put a stop on my card, due to the charge I rang up for my new computer down in Florida.  They tried to call me at home, but again, I'm in Texas.  So I'm flat out of credit.  They said next time to call them and let them know I'm travelling and they'll keep it in action.  They did re activate my card while I was on the phone.

My response: Computers make our lives so much easier.

All Kentuckians do not root for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. At least 25% root for the University of Louisville Cardinals. Since I have degrees from both universities, when they play each other I can become a bit schizoid. Of course, I also smile because I know my alma mater will win.

Many years ago I received as a birthday present a book that contained only the words of Winston Churchill, A few of my favorites are:

 

• A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen.
• A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
• An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
• Eating words has never given me indigestion.
• He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.
• History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.
• I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
• I may be drunk, Lady Astor, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly.
• Lady Nancy Astor: Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea.

Churchill: Nancy, if I were your husband, I'd drink it.

 

I once did some research on U.S. wars and learned that the United States has fought 12 major wars in our brief history. If one considers all of the other wars, such as the war against Tripoli, the numerous wars against Native Americans, the Pilipino “Insurrection”, the invasions of Granada and Panama, etc., there has not been a decade in our history when the U.S military has not been involved in conflict.

Perhaps Oscar Wilde was correct when he said, America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without a period of civilization in between.

Hmmmm… I suppose you really had to be there.

February After Groundhog Day

The Day the Music Died, 3 February 1959 

A long, long time ago...
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And, maybe, they’d be happy for a while.

But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver.
Bad news on the doorstep;
I couldn’t take one more step.

I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride,
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died.

 Check out Trav’s post: Gone much too soon, 50 years ago

Mr. Groundhog has done his thing and the result, no matter how you read it, is that Spring is on its way. May the Natural Cycles of the Earth be praised! because I am weary of the cold, snow, ice, dark sky and housebound cat!

But there is much more to February than nasty winter weather and the legend of the hog that lives beneath ground. There are:

BIRTHDAYS

Two of our grandest Presidents of these here United States were born in February: 

Abraham Lincoln: February 12, 1809

George Washington: February 22, 1732 

I know of two notable bloggers born in February (if you know of others, please let me know):

The delightfully inquisitive Debra Pasquella of Let Me Go On and On: February 4^th

The singular MATT-MAN of Bagwine Ruminations: February 7^th

And, of course, there is (drum roll):

ME, Sometimes Saintly Nick of Nick’s Bytes: February 14^th

I have two ex-relatives and an ex-friend also born in February. In light of the wise adage,  If you can’t say anything good about someone then say nothing at all, I’ll say no more about them.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Or, perhaps it need no longer be Black History Month. Rochelle Riley, Free Press Columnist, has a very interesting proposal for this February. She writes, in part:

I propose that, from this day forward, we stop telling the tale of two Americas and instead document and celebrate the full and storied, multicultural and multidimensional story that is America in all of its colors, geographies and passions, in all of its ups, downs and exhortations…

I propose that this February, we become not an America of black or white or Hispanic or Asian but an America of black and white and Hispanic and Asian, an America where each of those heritages is a mandatory part of school curriculums…

Today, in honor of black history, which is American history, I propose that Black History Month be no more.

I strongly recommend that we all read Ms. Riley’s proposals in her column entitled Now's the time to end Black History Month and consider, as she suggests, that this Black History Month, 139 years after Congress granted black men the right to vote, 89 years after Congress granted women the right to vote, we can vote to no longer be a fragmented nation.

AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS ...

As one who was born on Valentine’s Day—I shall speak in a later post about the joys and pains of being born on the day that, supposedly, Bishop Valentine was decapitated—the day of flowers, candy, cards, etc. centered on love is central to my thoughts during the month of February. As you may suspect from my aside in the previous sentence, my thoughts on Saint Valentine’s Day ain’t always joyful thoughts. 

So, that’s my introduction to the month of February, 2009. I shall touch on those themes as the shortest month of the year continues.

For now, your mission—if you agree to accept it—is to wish Deb a happy birthday tomorrow and Matt-Man a happy birthday next Saturday.

Peace, ya’ll!