From the Other Side of the Edge…..
Just 272 Words, …so Brilliant, …so Important, …but now, so Ignored
By Joe Facinoli

Which of these lines, from our history, is more important, or more relevant?

“….certain unalienable rights, …life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Or,

“….government of the people, by the people, for the people….”

Yep, pretty tough to pick. Almost a “chicken or the egg” thing.

The first, of course, from our Declaration of Independence, …that most purposeful and powerful of documents, …which changed the world.

The second, and equally as recognizable, from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, …272 words, and 10 sentences, of the most perfect, and powerful, political prose ever written. And which changed the world, …again.

Let’s think about these two, for a quick minute.

“Unalienable” rights, we are born with, and cannot be taken away, …at least in theory.

But without a solid democratic government in place, based on the good will and best intentions “…of the people…”, those rights are just so much ink on a page.

The Founders also declared that “…all men are created equal…”.

When Jefferson included these words in The Declaration, he did so perhaps as much because it suited the purpose of the revolutionary situation in which he found himself, rather than for any deep convictions of compassion, for his fellow humanity.

He did own two hundred slaves, oh by the way, and fathered three children by one of them, …without ever freeing his progeny, nor their mother.

Guess “equality” only goes so far, when you have a plantation to run.

Lincoln, on the other hand, made those words have real meaning.

When he made reference to them at Gettysburg, it was from the heart. And with a heavy heart, for what the absence of that special truth, …the equality of man, …had done to his beloved country.

In his own way, and in his own time, Lincoln was perhaps the greatest “Founding Father”. If for no other reason than because he had to live, and live up to, all of the words and ideals set forth by the “original” founders, nearly a century before him.

He had to “walk the walk”, of the “talk” the others had proposed. He had a nation to save, and had two “no-give” factions to deal with, to make that happen.

The originals, who suffered immensely, to be sure, nonetheless had a free reign to create whatever they wanted, once a distracted England was dispatched.

Democracy was at stake for our 16th President, and he bore that burden, deeply, and shouldered that mantel, proudly. He put the People first, …and himself, far down the line.

He was humble, and he took no credit. But took on all blame, without hesitation.

And although the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation was surely influenced by political and military expediency, it was also his long labored over, philosophical choice, to right the wrong of so many previous decades and centuries, no matter the consequence.

Contrast that with today, when “expediency” and “consequence” have entirely different meanings, effects, and even rewards, …and have been taken to a completely separate level, from anything that any of our “…Fathers…” could possibly have imagined.

Jefferson, and many of his Founding companions, felt that government should only exist to insure and protect everyone’s Liberty, in all phases of their lives. Assuring political and personal freedom, and equality, for all.

Lincoln picked up on that, eighty seven years later (four score and seven, for those paying attention), and re-stated this principle in the strongest way, saying that our nation was indeed “…Conceived in Liberty”, and that “…this nation, …shall have a new birth of freedom.”

Clearly, this meant freeing those in slavery, but it also was directed at all Americans, …blue or gray, black or white, …unconditionally.

This is Existentialism, at its shining best. Ol’ Abe was as deep, as he was strong and good.

And one could easily surmise, that he, as well as the original founders, never intended any of this to involve so much over-bearing, debilitating, and smothering governmental intervention, nor its control of our daily lives, nor certainly not the endless and insidious government handouts and entitlements, that deny the freedoms it professes to save.

Lincoln was a caring, feeling human being, who understood the enormity of his job, and the far-reaching effects of his actions and decisions. And he suffered mightily for them, during the Civil War.

He wrote his famous speech on the train ride from Washington to Gettysburg, by himself, on small piece of paper. With no one briefing him, on anything.

He never used the word “I”, not even once in his text, …never mentioned the major victory which was won by his Union forces, on the very grounds he stood over, …and displayed not the slightest hint of self-indulgence, within his incredible words.

Barack Obama, by comparison, is a self-absorbed, ego-maniac, who takes credit for anything successful, at all, inside Washington DC, or anywhere within “his” federal government, then pleads complete ignorance to absolutely everything that has even the smallest smell of failure, or even non-success.

And young Barry, with not a care in the world (to look at his golf schedule, and his vacation itineraries), cannot rise to speak, even once, without getting a full briefing from an army of lackeys, a team of speech writers detailing and crafting every syllable, and definitely not without his precious, teddy bear close, tele-prompters.

Lincoln knew about reaching “the people”, and doing right by them. And he knew so well, that it’s “the people”, and their good wishes, who matter the most.

Obama knows about reaching for the door, and avoiding any situation where he would have to give an honest answer. He also knows about campaigning, and massaging voters, and that it’s saying just the right thing, to get enough votes and as much money as possible for the next election, that matters the most.

Martin Luther King, Jr. picked up Lincoln, exactly one hundred years later in 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in DC. During his “I Have a Dream” speech, he spoke, as Lincoln and Jefferson before him, of “America’s Creed”, which of course, is “…that all men are created equal…”.

A direct line existed from President Lincoln, to Dr. King. Just as there was a definitive, palpable line from Jefferson to Lincoln.

So, …what “direct line” has brought us Obama??

Saul Alinsky? Bill Ayers? Maybe, …the Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright?? How ‘bout Frank Marshall Davis (an avowed communist, and a pedophile, and a man whom BHO himself calls a close friend)???

And to just where, …does this stellar lineage lead us??

To Eric Holder, …or John Kerry?? Or Joe Biden???!! Jay Carney? Or Hillary!!!???

Not exactly a Hall of Fame lineup, whichever direction we look.

God help us.

Every great change in this country, even “Fundamental” ones, and every great social movement, has always led us back to the core values of those who made this amazing nation.

Until now, …that is.

Now, …those values are simply ignored. For convenience, for selfish purpose, and for personal greed. Political and Economic.

“…the People”, …are the ones who are meant to survive and flourish. Not the bureaucracy, not the court system, not government sponsorship, and not its endless welfare programs.

“…the People”, …doing as we choose, without government “help”, and making our own lives, in our own way, …and not according to what some small group thinks is best for us.

Obama brazenly, cheaply, and unapologetically borrows Mr. Lincoln’s famous last line from Gettysburg, for his own self-aggrandizement, and far too often.

But he cannot cheapen the words, he merely pales sadly, before them.

An Empty Suit should never draw attention to himself like that, for he can never compare to the greatest “tailor” of them all.

The one who filled that suit so completely, and so masterfully, better than anyone else who ever wore it.

The 21st century has its modern technology, communication, and medicine, …but leadership? That one missed the train, …about 150 years ago.

Keep the Faith (and vote wisely in November),

Joe Facinoli
--Joe can be reached at: joefacinoli@gmail.com
Intelligent Response Encouraged !!
© Copyright 2014, Joe Facinoli