Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Barrack Obama and Abraham Lincoln

He came, He won hearts, he conquered and when skeptics aroused suspicions, his solemn voce pressed on that American creed “Yes, we can”. In 1861, one man poor as he was made an arduous journey from a log cabin in Illinois to the White House in Washington DC, on his journey he saw some of the most piteous and savage spectacles that could infuriate any man. Notorious as was for losing elections, he becoming the president surprised many. As the 16th president of the United States of America, he revolutionized the American society by leading the citizen to a civil war, the likes of which are rare. During this time he also made a proclamation that inspired numerous societies across the world. His proclamation became a timeless and fundamental creed for impending societies in the world.

“It is for us , rather to be dedicated towards the unfinished work that these men have so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be dedicated towards the great task remaining before us- that from these honored dead we take increasing devotion to the cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these people will not have died in vain-that this nation under god, will have a new birth of freedom- and that the government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth…..” That’s quoting the very words of Abraham Lincoln in what the world knows to be the Gettysburg address.

In 2008, another man still poor, hailing again from Illinois made his way to the White House. His win was not only spectacular but also historical for he was the first black president of the States. The dream seen by many like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela and many others had finally reached its crescendo. 45 years after Martin Luther King had a dream, America had finally opened up to the new world, and America had finally adopted a perspective broader than had ever been. As the headlines screamed the next day, “America unites to vote out racial prejudice”. America woke up to a new dawn, a new beginning.

On the night of the win, President Barrack Hussein Obama made a speech that complimented that of Lincoln’s : “This is our chance to answer that call….this is our time to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and to promote that cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm the fundamental truth: that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope and when we are met with cynicism and doubt, and those who tell us we can’t we shall respond with that timeless American creed that sums up the spirits of our people,’ Yes, we can’ ….”

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