Reflecting on the words of Lincoln

Ken Anderson, Las Vegas

Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013 | 2:02 a.m.

Recently the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was honored at a gathering in Pennsylvania. It is, perhaps, the most famous oration by any American president.

It contains words that will long be remembered and respected by the American people. But, how do these words fit in today for our nation?

Lincoln told us that the Civil War would test whether this nation, with its noble beginnings, had the task of staying united as one nation.

There is much evidence that today we have two parties in Washington who are so stubborn and have so much ill will for each other that the success of our nation is in jeopardy.

Lincoln told the nation that there have been countless Americans who have laid down their lives for the principles our government stood for. And he added that it will be for the living Americans who benefited from all those casualties to work together and do the “unfinished work.” It is difficult to find evidence of this as we examine the reports from the media.

The new birth of freedom that Lincoln promised to us was one based on a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

But do Americans today have the feeling of support from the politicians in Washington? Is there more blame going on than praise for our national leaders?

Yes, Lincoln left America with much hope, but where does the source of hope lie now? Perhaps it is the task of every American to look deeply into their own agenda and ask ourselves whether we are part of the problem or part of the solution.