Comments | potus_geeks: Potus Geeks Book Review: The Greatest Speech, Ever by James L. Cotton Jr.

kensmind in potus_geeks

Potus Geeks Book Review: The Greatest Speech, Ever by James L. Cotton Jr.

Oct 22, 2014 02:18

On Wednesday November 18, 1863, a tired President Abraham Lincoln boarded a special train bound for Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, destined to keep a commitment he had made to say a few words at the dedication of a new cemetery for those who had fallen at the epic battle which had been fought there just over four months ago. Worn down from his duties as ( Read more... )

abraham lincoln, presidential bios, civil war, book review

Comments 6

seaivy October 22 2014, 11:45:00 UTC

How splendid to meet the author.
It makes it more special.

I will make my library find this book!

and a personal PS - When I was in eighth grade (a long time ago) we had to memorize the Gettysburg Address - We could then participate in a contest for the best recitation of the Address. I won.

kensmind October 23 2014, 01:05:27 UTC

Did you ever find the JQA book by Fred Kaplan? I'm curious to know how much you enjoy it if and when you get a chance to read it.

gm_1787 October 23 2014, 14:23:18 UTC

Great comment: 'history is not the property of an academic elite.' Unfortunately, it is becoming a political topic for local school boards (at least near me). A local Board member said about the new Advanced Placement History course from the College Board: "I believe the course is heavily flawed. When I read the tests, I see a leftist liberal indoctrination." Later: "Would I love to see every kid come out of a college a conservative? Hell yes, I'll admit that because I think that's what's best for America." No bias there.

kensmind October 23 2014, 20:17:06 UTC

That's distressing to read about the institutional bias. I truly believe that there is much good to be borrowed both from liberalism and conservatism. Like everyone else, I have my own biases, but I'd like to think that any place where history is discussed is a place where tolerance of all points of view can exist.

The other day I saw a poll taken by Pew Research that suggested that a large majority of people have been attacked online personally for some point of view. I don't know if it's a side-effect of the cyber age or not, but there seems to be a sharp decline in tolerance and civility.

gm_1787 October 23 2014, 21:42:23 UTC

I agree!

This one blows my mind and it's from someone who is on a state Board of Education:
http://www.coloradoindependent.com/149589/state-board-of-ed-member-u-s-ended-slavery-voluntarily

kensmind October 24 2014, 16:48:55 UTC

Maybe her dictionary has a different definition of "voluntarily". That was quite a shocking statement for her to make. It makes me wonder how these people get elected. I've looked at a number of mid-term races where the quality of candidates offered by the two major parties is shockingly shallow. It made me wonder if the problem is that good candidates are shunning the process, if parties think that voters want narrow-minded representatives or if the candidates themselves think that this is what voters want. I don't have an answer for that.