Father Abraham

       If only a politician would say something like that and then ACT upon such words. However, Abraham Lincoln seems to be an anomaly in a long list of Presidents and politicians whose primary motivations and reasoning for their actions often were very flawed and tinted by various degrees by greed. This president seems to stand out to all (except for neo-confederates) as the greatest, wisest, and most morally-correct politician, and perhaps even man, in all of American history. It made me wonder and many others wonder how a man could even become President or a politician in the first place and be like this. 

     Many would point to Lincoln's humble upbringing compared to the typically rich upbringing of almost every other President. However, many a politician and President have also grown up in similar conditions as potato farmers or any other number of poor situations. They typically end up about as the rich politicians do. No, it wasn't exactly the environment he was raised in that gave him his great internal spirit (though it certainly helped in some ways), it was how he used his mind.

      A striking thing about Lincoln was that he would always consider the idea that he might be wrong. He was never satisfied with blind belief in a faction or ideal. No, for every issue he spent countless hours and days studying all sides of issues, interviewing those who hold to all sides of issues, and tussling in his mind over every detail, every pro and con of all sides. He was constantly searching for a better way, and was always thinking, thinking, thinking! 

    What a contrast this is to so many politicians of this day who blindly throw themselves at parties and refuse to even consider for a moment that their point of view may be wrong in any way! This man Abraham Lincoln is proof of what incredible things a man can do if they will but think and consider! Now, firmness in belief is by no means a wrong thing, but only after one has done as Lincoln as done: searched and thought and struggled to discover the rights and the wrongs. There are undeniable truths about the world, like slavery is evil, and a civilization based on money is one that will not find true freedom. Let us search them out in earnest and then dedicate ourselves to a life of supporting the right, while always keeping the idea that Lincoln always had in mind that we may be wrong about a few things...