Living in the 'Moments of Lincoln' in the Past and Present days

Inspired by the visit to Madison, I visited Springfield in Illinois a few weeks back. The similarity is both are capitals to two neighboring states. To the unknown, Springfield is the capital of the state of Illinois and the place where Abraham Lincoln lived for 25 years which are the formative years till his moment came to be the President in 1861. I was interested in both – the capital and the huge Lincoln connect to it. As a child, I was interested in the character and personality of Abraham Lincoln and spent some time reading books on him during my childhood. If Illinois has the official state slogan of ‘Land of Lincoln’ and every license plate proudly displays it, it has the backdrop of the history made more than 170 years ago. How this history has been preserved, the capital has been preserved and the state still celebrates its favorite son has the answer to his roots in the historic capital city. On top of my own subjective attraction of the central figure and the importance of this place, it’s a visit of some worth and weightage. Living in the ‘Land of Lincoln’ for nearly 18 months at the height of my work, a devastating pandemic and the directions the nation has been receiving in its journey shall accumulate to calling that we are living in the ‘Period of Lincoln’ brought to the present day. Let me delve on how it is the case. 

Abraham Lincoln is the single greatest President of U.S. who oversaw a period of time that would ‘make’ the nation for the next 160 years to reach its pinnacle of glory. The U.S. has seen a host of challenges in 1860 including a young nation facing slavery, civil war etc. The towering Lincoln waded the nation through these murky waters to set it on the path to unimagined progress. The present-day U.S. also faces a host of issues which includes climate change, gun violence, broken health system, opioid epidemic, racial and economic inequality, political polarization, covid pandemic etc. which requires a figure of Lincoln’s stature to wade through these troubled waters and set the smooth sailing for the next 150 years. The nation has deviated from its orbit to cultivate weed within itself. The time has become more than ripe for the arrival of ‘Period of Lincoln’ to weed out the menace and steer the nation in its moments of trouble. The polarization, energization and movement stirring the nation from bottom up should once again bring the contemporary ‘Lincoln moment’ which would undo the wrongs and create a legacy far into the future. The nation which has blown out of proportion needs to be contained and carefully cultivated to go back in time and re-invent itself for the future. The time for revolving, living around that one important central figure has come and we need to dip in the wave to sow the seeds for a bright future. In short, if the past couple of years of surreal experience is any indication, the moment of modern-day Lincoln has arrived, and we need to immerse ourselves in that very moment.

 

The visit to the home city of Lincoln is all but a mere portrayal, coincidence and remembrance of the good work happening in the ‘Lincoln Period’ which the country and the world would take note of in posterity. There has to be a higher purpose, objective, mission to any period and bringing back the Lincoln rule to the nation after 160 years can be a mission to count upon. For the nation has no better statesman than him in the entire modern history speaks of the necessity of him in the modern world. Let there be many more Lincolns to emanate from this nation to build and guide it in a pivotal period. The necessity of a man of his stature to take the reign once again is more important to the world as it is to U.S. From what is happening in the last couple of years from the land of Lincoln as focal point, it can be called as a resurrection of him in his very land which bred him in the past. Let there be many others who have the societal conditions, a life to make as him and become as great as him, emanate from this land to create, challenge and change the problematic status quo. We are galvanized and heated like a hot iron and one corrective action will put us in proper state.

 

Back to the trip to Springfield, I visited Lincoln’s home where he stayed for 17 years and the scintillating Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, which is a modern depiction of his life and history. The home and the entire neighborhood which has been preserved for so long took us back to centuries-old setting. The animations and short films played at these two places are very engaging and top-notch. I was immersed in his aura for those two days and recounted many of his life’s moments and achievements. It can be said that I lived among the Lincoln's moments of the past in a place preserved in his remembrance. It is worth recollecting his service to the nation in a lot of critical avenues at a path-breaking time. I am laying out some of those in this space. Some of his achievements are listed below:

 

1. Preservation of the Union: Lincoln's leadership during the American Civil War played a pivotal role in preserving the United States as a single nation. His steadfast commitment to keeping the Union intact was a defining achievement, as the Civil War was a monumental test of the nation's unity.

2. Emancipation Proclamation: In 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. While it didn't immediately free all enslaved individuals, it was a critical step toward the abolition of slavery and a significant milestone in the fight for civil rights and equality.

 

3. Presiding over the Civil War: Lincoln's leadership helped mend the nation's wounds during and after the Civil War. His focus on reconciliation rather than retribution contributed to the healing process and set the stage for the Reconstruction era. Abraham Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the conflict and the future of the United States. His ability to navigate the complexities of wartime leadership while staying true to his principles and the ideals of the nation has solidified his legacy as one of America's greatest leaders.

4. Gettysburg Address: Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In this concise and powerful speech, he emphasized the principles of liberty, equality, and democracy and reminded the nation of its founding ideals. His words reinforced the idea that the Civil War was a struggle for the survival of a government "of the people, by the people, for the people."

 

5. Transcontinental Railroad: Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Acts, which facilitated the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad. This monumental infrastructure project connected the East and West coasts of the United States, greatly enhancing transportation and trade.

 

6. Inspiration for Future Leaders: Lincoln's principles of equality, liberty, and democracy continue to inspire leaders and civil rights activists to this day, with his legacy as the "Great Emancipator" and a champion of human rights.

 

We need the analogues to these very great achievements as outcomes to tackle the mammoth problems of the present day. In a way, we need the ‘Lincoln treatment’ for the present day challenges and his period needs to reinvent, recur and reappear in this modern day. It is not very far as the periodic cycle will rotate and gets us to those days once again. The government of the day works steadfastly to tackle these new-age challenges and the citizens are equally receptive to mend, navigate along new pathways. This will collectively portray that Lincolns of yesteryear will emerge in this new-age and ‘Lincoln Moments’ will appear and re-appear in the land to make the place a lot better and beautiful.