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Gettysburg Address (Today is Abes' Birthday)
University of Oklahoma Law Center ^ | 11/19/1863 | President Lincoln

Posted on 02/12/2006 1:46:59 PM PST by Kimmers

Nov. 19, 1863 Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon 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 it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do. 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 hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.

It is rather for us the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation 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."


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abrahamlincoln; address; birthday; gettysburgaddress; greatestpresident; lincoln; thecivilwar
Since today is his birthday I thought it would be good to read this short but vital speech in our nations history.
1 posted on 02/12/2006 1:47:00 PM PST by Kimmers
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To: Kimmers

Thank you for posting.


2 posted on 02/12/2006 1:51:32 PM PST by i_dont_chat (I defend the right to offend!)
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To: Kimmers
It is certainly no exaggeration, when that short speech is called when of the greatest pieces of prose in the English language. What a wonderful wordsmith that great man was!
3 posted on 02/12/2006 1:56:21 PM PST by appleharvey
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To: appleharvey

I think the secret was that it was purely from his heart, not just some 'cunning words', crafted together by a 'professional'.


4 posted on 02/12/2006 1:58:36 PM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: Kimmers

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

Bears repeating.


5 posted on 02/12/2006 2:00:30 PM PST by jocon307 (The Silent Majority - silent no longer)
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To: appleharvey

It is amazing, the citizens of our country during Lincolns' time did not have the education that we have. Their use of the English language when you read their letters or read this speech is sheer poetry!....It certainly says a lot about the direction education has gone....I also believe that much of their reading came from the KJ bible.


6 posted on 02/12/2006 2:04:29 PM PST by Kimmers
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To: Kimmers

"The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee is pleased to announce that the Annual Gettysburg Civil War Battle Reenactment will be held on the actual anniversary dates of the battle - July 1, 2 and 3, commemorating the 143rd anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Don't miss this rare occurence!"

Battles Each Day
Live Mortar Fire Competition
Two Living History Activities Tents
Diverse Array of Quality Sutlers
Tour the Military Camps and Converse with the Reenactors
Wide Variety of Delicious Food and Beverages

Order Tickets Today - Limited Grandstand Seating

http://www.gettysburgreenactment.com/


7 posted on 02/12/2006 2:09:25 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta (There's always a reason to choose life.)
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

Wow thank you....


8 posted on 02/12/2006 2:13:19 PM PST by Kimmers
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To: Kimmers

You're welcome...


9 posted on 02/12/2006 2:18:54 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta (There's always a reason to choose life.)
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To: Kimmers

May God give lasting peace and rest to all those brave soldiers , of both North and South , that gave their lives
on those sad and bloody days , inspiring President Lincoln
to pen these immortal words. May we never forget.


10 posted on 02/12/2006 2:20:19 PM PST by LeoWindhorse
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To: Kimmers

Gettysburg College Alumni Bump!


11 posted on 02/12/2006 2:23:00 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum.)
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To: Kimmers
Celebrating a man who single-handedly ushered in the continuing era of Big Government.

Thanks, Abe...for nothing.

12 posted on 02/12/2006 3:09:40 PM PST by A2J (Love Jesus...hate "church.")
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To: Kimmers
I don't recall the phrase "This we may, in all propriety, do." If I remember right (I'm from the era when schoolkids were made to memorize these kinds of important historical compositions), the phrase Lincoln used was "It is altogether fitting and proper that we do this."

It is important because the language, "fitting and proper," comes from the Latin phrase dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori. Loosely translated, it means "it is altogether fitting and proper that a man lay down his life for his country." A particularly appropriate theme for the dedication of a cemetery.

13 posted on 02/12/2006 3:15:19 PM PST by IronJack
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To: IronJack

On the Library of Congress website, the Nicolay draft includes the words, “In all propriety.” But it also says it is not known if this was the speech that was read.


14 posted on 02/12/2006 3:41:00 PM PST by Yogafist
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To: Kimmers

Old Abe could turn a phrase, couldn't he?


15 posted on 02/13/2006 12:24:58 AM PST by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done, needs to be done by the government.)
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To: IronJack
"It is altogether fitting and proper that we do this."

That is the way I learned it. I, too, hesitated over the new phrase but then passed it by.

16 posted on 02/13/2006 12:28:48 AM PST by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done, needs to be done by the government.)
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To: A2J

Rebel!


17 posted on 02/13/2006 12:29:36 AM PST by endthematrix (None dare call it ISLAMOFACISM!)
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To: endthematrix
Rebel!

And proud of it! Deo Vindice!

18 posted on 02/13/2006 7:46:20 PM PST by A2J (Love Jesus...hate "church.")
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