Nothing changes - most remains the same

I am reading a book on my Kindle from Amazon containing the writings of Abraham Lincoln.  What a treasure!  Most reads of that sort are treasures, if one appreciates that kind of history.  I like history going back that far, this, 140 years or so.  It is interesting to me to see how they thought and why.  It is for that reason that I say, Nothing changes - most remains the same. 

There is a lot that can be talked about in the read of what Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president said.  Certainly, I will not capture all of it - not nearly - in one blog (Perhaps we will do another or two of my thinking on the writings.).  One thing that Lincoln brought out with regard to some subject he was writing or speaking about was telling: most things done have good and bad; it is best to have more good than bad.  Wow.  Certainly none of us have the capacity, as much as we would like, to have all good in everything we do - but we can work to have as much good as possible. 

One interesting recap by the author was in a speech given just after being reelected president.  The was was on a wind down.  Things were still tough, though. From a speech made Nov. 10, 1864, Lincoln had these words:

"It has long been a grave question whether any government not too strong for the liberties of its people can be strong enough to maintain its existence in great emergencies.  On this point, the present rebellion (Civil War) brought our republic to a severe test, and the presidential election, occurring in regular course during the rebellion, added not a little to strain.... What has occurred in this case must ever occur in similar cases.  Human nature will not change."  He goes on to talk about the nature of mankind - weak and strong, silly and wise, bad and good.  I like the following: "So long as I have been here, I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man's bosom... it adds nothing to my satisfaction that any other man may be disappointed or pained by the result."  Wow.  "Honest Abe," they called him.

Admittedly, to me at least, things have changed, looking at our present seat of government.  Well, maybe this is a good lesson rather than "nothing ever changes."

(Quotes taken from The Writings of Abraham Lincoln, published Apr. 29, 2008, B&R Samizadat Express - editor not given.)

Well come back to more on Lincoln and his writings.  What a great read.

Time to do it again

I started like a house a fire. Then, I cooled like ice. Started, stopped. Now, it is time to start again. A chance to sort of get it off my chest. Certainly, a lot of water has gone under the bridge, so to speak. So, this offers me a chance to say it more, to cover other subjects. Sometimes they will be like what troubles chuck; sometimes it will just to be to comment for what it is worth. The reader - if read - can be the judge. So what brings all this on?

For one, reading. I have been doing a lot of reading. I got a Kindle from Amazon and have used it a lot to read history, which I love. Also, television has offered a lot to talk about, as well. And, so has life. So, there is plenty of fuel out there. Maybe I can treat it rightly and with appropriate respect.

 

 

My next blog will deal with what I found in reading the writings of Abraham Lincoln. Imagine that. Going back that far. I have found, or have renewed my knowledge, that President Lincoln was a pretty neat guy. I have found in the read he had a lot of good to say, and that saying ought to be thought of today. No, he did not have higher education as we think of it today, but he was educated - self taught would be the best way to put it. So, with that source I will have at least one - maybe more - blog on the Sayings of Abe Lincoln. I am convinced that had he not been murdered we would have a lot to talk about, and the world might have been a better place because of it.

 

 

Other blogs will speak to the both good and bad. There is plenty of both, obviously.

 

 

I will try to keep this blog up for some time. Certainly, there is enough to write about out there. Whether I can hold up to discuss my perception of it is another matter, fo sho.

Time to start again

Been out a while.  Coming back.