Monkeyboy wrote:Your reading was similar to how others read it, so it was obviously my bad. I should have been more careful with something like that.

In 1838, at the age of 28, Abraham Lincoln gave what history calls his 'Lyceum Speech'. He was not only not President at the time. He was a man of no political consequence anywhere. He delivered the speech at what was called the Young Men's Lyceum, in Springfield, Illinois.

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As Lincoln writes ...

This field of glory is harvested, and the crop is already appropriated. But new reapers will arise, and they, too, will seek a field. It is to deny, what the history of the world tells us is true, to suppose that men of ambition and talents will not continue to spring up amongst us. And, when they do, they will as naturally seek the gratification of their ruling passion, as others have so done before them. The question then, is, can that gratification be found in supporting and maintaining an edifice that has been erected by others?

Our field of vision is quite different today, certainly in retrospect. We know that in 1838 slavery was practiced throughout the South, women couldn't vote, much of what we now know as the architecture of democracy and freedom didn't exist. It's hardly like there was no work left to do. And yet there is a basic similarity. The challenge, the potential for accomplishment, for 'glory' to use that archaic and perhaps uncomfortable word that could be found in preservation and betterment simply couldn't compare to that of creation. There is a certain boringness and restraint inherent in being the preservers and betterers of a republic that has endured for almost a quarter of a millennium.

And yet here we have the opportunity to be its guardians and protectors at a unique moment, perhaps a moment of especial peril. Who would not embrace that challenge? We know the curse: may you live in interesting times. We are living in interesting times. Most of us would not have chosen it. But we have it. I think many of us look back at critical momentous moments in our history, the Civil War, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement and other comparable passages in the country's history and think, what would I have done? Where would I have been? Well, now's your moment to find out. We are living in interesting times. We should embrace it rather than feel afraid or powerless. We have a fabric of 240 years of republican government behind us. We have the tools we need.

CalvinBall wrote:It's really great these people are dressed well. At least they'll look nice as they start destroying progress.

td11 wrote:Please sign and share https://t.co/h8czpicTSK

azrider wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:It's really great these people are dressed well. At least they'll look nice as they start destroying progress.

They are indeed.

td11 wrote:Please sign and share https://t.co/h8czpicTSK

drsmooth wrote:

azrider wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:It's really great these people are dressed well. At least they'll look nice as they start destroying progress.

They are indeed.

AZ, are you just pretending to be a #$!&@ or are you really? Those kids don't represent majorities opposed to drumpf & you know it

Monkeyboy wrote:look at those people that Trump paid to pretend to be angry protestors. They sure looked like their only goal was to break stuff. Honestly, they looked fake, and perfectly covered. hey didn't seem like impulsive and angry people. They looked like they had a job to do.

06hawkalum wrote:Tonight playing the role of bitter, retired, white, male douche living in a 55+ community in Arizona = azrider!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, give him a hand!

JUburton wrote:

Monkeyboy wrote:

WilliamC wrote:Don't like that he is our President but he is... I guess I am just going to hope for the best and that he surprises even his biggest critics more so than stupid stuff he says that will lead to "I told you so".

It's not so I can say "I told you so." It's so his supporters will realize he's a con man and won't vote for him again. I'm also hoping dems can win back enough senate seats in 2018 to actually investigate what will surely be a long list of questionable activities. Me saying "I told you so," will make no difference to anyone anywhere.

2018 is a blue bloodbath in the senate. House might be in play.

azrider wrote:

06hawkalum wrote:Tonight playing the role of bitter, retired, white, male douche living in a 55+ community in Arizona = azrider!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, give him a hand!

Thanks, buttercup! I love you too!

06hawkalum wrote:

azrider wrote:

06hawkalum wrote:Tonight playing the role of bitter, retired, white, male douche living in a 55+ community in Arizona = azrider!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, give him a hand!

Thanks, buttercup! I love you too!

Encore! You gave a virtuosic performance

azrider wrote:

06hawkalum wrote:

azrider wrote:

06hawkalum wrote:Tonight playing the role of bitter, retired, white, male douche living in a 55+ community in Arizona = azrider!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, give him a hand!

Thanks, buttercup! I love you too!

Encore! You gave a virtuosic performance

I got to go and can't play with you anymore... But you have a great night! Go cats!