If this picture doesn't give you goosebumps and a few tears welling up in your eyes....amazing!

[LynneSin]

I know that Abe Lincoln was a republican but I strongly suspect that if Lincoln were alive today he'd hardly recognize the party that claims Lincoln as one of their own. But this picture just started tears streaming down my eyes. What a shot!

[Richardo]

1. I don't think anyone would be thinking party affiliation, Lynne.

It's a great photo on its own merits :patriot:

[DesertRat]

2. There's another one of the Obamas walking down the steps together

in the shadow of Lincoln that also gave me goosebumps!

[Gman]

3. Lincoln was a RINO

he didn't believe in the free market system and injected big government into labor and management issues on an unprecedented scale (i.e. freed the slaves). Lincoln could never get through the GOP primaries to get nominated today.

[LynneSin]

5. Actually the Republicans of his time were much more progressive than today

When the fundamentalists were given free reign in the party - that's when the republicans turned into what they are today.

To be honest, if many of us DUers were alive some 150 years ago - we probably would have been members of Lincoln's republican party.

[TTUBatfan2008]

11. And the Democrats were actually...

the bigots of the country, which is why the "Solid South" voted for Democrats until 1964 and 1965 when LBJ signed away the South forever by enacting the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. Suddenly the Solid South began voting for Republicans. I wonder why.

[WonderGrunion]

17. Not forever

We took back Virginia and North Carolina this year and several other states were close. The segregated south is finally in its dying days.

[TTUBatfan2008]

23. Yes...

And eventually my state of Texas will come into play. The demographics are quickly changing in this state due to immigration as well as migration. It's one of the fastest growing areas in the country, along with the likes of Arizona. People are moving away from the likes of Pennsylvania, etc.

[WonderGrunion]

26. It's not just immigration.

Youth today don't have the adherence to long standing bigotry that existed in previous generations. Slowly, the bigots are dying off and not being replaced.

[progressoid]

22. Yeah but facts aren't really all that important to today's Repubes.

They love to claim the icon of Lincoln but ignore his policies.

[patrice]

4. We see the poetry of the universe made visible.

I don't go to church anymore, though I still believe. The closest I come to church is when I visit D.C. I always go to the Lincoln Memorial first.

To me, the poem is about freedom and, hence, the possibility of love. It's written in the seconds of each person's life and people like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King brought people together, like words, in sync speaking a truth together.

I am very happy for Doctor King and the People he has lead so well. God Bless him.

[salguine]

6. If Lincoln were alive today he wouldn't touch the GOP with a fence rail.

[LynneSin]

7. Lincoln wouldn't even tough the fence rail that touches todays republican party

the man has standards you know

[EraOfResponsibility]

8. LOL that's right

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. If Lincoln were alive today he would leave the GOP

and become a Democrat.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

9. A little over

24 hours....the world will be watching.

Full disclosure: I've called in sick.:fistbump:

[Scurrilous]

10. K & R

:thumbsup:

[treestar]

13. I liked the shots of the performers in front of him too

Lincoln looks as if he is presiding over the whole thing.

[prolesunited]

14. Lincoln probably didn't see this day coming

Nor would he have been in favor it, judging by his own words.

I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.
{snip}
I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything. I do not understand that because I do not want a negro woman for a slave I must necessarily want her for a wife.
{snip}
I will add to this that I have never seen, to my knowledge, a man, woman, or child who was in favor of producing a perfect equality, social and political, between negroes and white men.

http://www.bartleby.com/251/41.html
From Fourth Joint Debate at Charleston, Political Debates Between Lincoln and Douglas. 1897.


Sorry to spoil your moment with a dose of historical accuracy.

[monmouth]

15. Wow. A true Republicon he was.....n/t

[Richardo]

21. Fish in a barrel

I predicted that remark as soon as prolesunited's post appeared.

[Patchuli]

16. Perhaps he would have grown to wish

for equality in society, however. The fact is that we do want it, for all. It is the truest statement that we will never be free unless all of us are free.

[HEyHEY]

24. Fat fuckin' chance. It'd be political suicide back then.

[HEyHEY]

25. Pfff, next you're gonna tell me Rick Warren isn't for gay rights.

[dbmk]

27. Sounds to me like a bit of political expediency

Add to that the way things were back then. When you factor in the accumulated interest, he would in no way have been a Republican today.

[ProfessorPlum]

28. You are absolutely right

Lincoln fought tooth and nail against what he saw was a trumped up war fought for propaganda and land-grabbing purposes, perpetrated by James Polk. He was a DU kind of guy.

[Avalux]

18. I kept wondering what Lincoln would think if he could have seen the concert yesterday -

in the shadow of his memorial. How he would feel watching the celebration; it was almost as if he was watching. I think he would be extremely proud.

[Hope And Change]

19. K & R!

[firedupdem]

20. That statue was right behind Dr. King as well. I just watched a replay

of his 1963 speech on CNN.