Lincoln's Speech, Dedication of Gettysburg, Nov, 1863

[OldCoyote]

At Gettysburg, between July 1-3, 1863, more than 51,000 Americans were counted missing, wounded or dead.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on 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 battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — 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 government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

[billisonboard]

Jul 3, 2019 20:44:33 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

At Gettysburg, between July 1-3, 1863, more than 51,000 Americans were counted missing, wounded or dead.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged ... We are met ... We have come ... we should do this.

..., we can not ... — we can not ... — we can not ... our poor power ... what we say here ,.. for us the living, ... for us to be ... remaining before us — ... we take ... we here ...

Great speech.

[tallguy]

Jul 3, 2019 20:44:33 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

At Gettysburg, between July 1-3, 1863, more than 51,000 Americans were counted missing, wounded or dead.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on 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 battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — 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 government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

I knew you had it in you to post something good and worthwhile.  Don't make us wait so long next time, okay?  

[Tennesseer]

Thank you Abraham Lincoln for consecrating the grounds of the Gettysburg battle field with your address, and as some believe, being the founder of Memorial Day.

[happyhoix]

What's great about that speech is Lincoln didn't think it was very good. It was something he jotted on the back of an envelope on the train ride down. The guy who spoke in front of him talked for a really long time - two hours, I think - and everyone thought Lincoln would also present a stemwinder. The photographer who was there to take pictures was so surprised by how short it was, the only photo we have of Lincoln at the event is blurred, because he's already sitting back down when it was taken. Yet it's arguably one of the best American speeches ever.

All politicians should emulate his brevity and patriotism. Happy 4th of July!

[djAdvocate]

I had this memorized in 5th grade.
I still remember most of it.

[steff]

Meh, could have been a better speech.   He didn't even brag about his crowd size or talk about what an honor it was for the dead to be there.  If he had used Washington's airforce & airport, he could have ended the war sooner.  Everyone knew that at the time.  

That's sarcasm for the orange kool aid drinkers screaming in the back. 

[weltschmerz]

Jul 5, 2019 15:17:48 GMT -5 steff said:

Meh, could have been a better speech.   He didn't even brag about his crowd size or talk about what an honor it was for the dead to be there.  If he had used Washington's airforce & airport, he could have ended the war sooner.  Everyone knew that at the time.  

That's sarcasm for the orange kool aid drinkers screaming in the back. 

Could have used the TSA workers to end the war sooner.

[kadee79]

Jul 5, 2019 13:37:57 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

I had this memorized in 5th grade.
I still remember most of it.

I had to learn it some where along the line, but have forgotten most of it now.  I remember more of my German class final exam than I do Lincoln's speech...we had to sing De Lorili (the Siren song) as our exam as our teacher an German woman accompanied us on her accordion.

[mroped]

I personally see it as the greatest speech for any occasion ever!!!
There never has been and will never be something of the kind. In 2-1/2 minutes Lincoln managed to capture the essence of this nation and what it stands for.
And to think that he wrote it himself, no speechwriter, nothing.
Genius!

[Tennesseer]

Jul 5, 2019 21:49:53 GMT -5 mroped said:

I personally see it as the greatest speech for any occasion ever!!!
There never has been and will never be something of the kind. In 2-1/2 minutes Lincoln managed to capture the essence of this nation and what it stands for.
And to think that he wrote it himself, no speechwriter, nothing.
Genius!

Nor did Lincoln ever mention airports.