Celebrating a president

Opinion

Discussion

February 16, 2010

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Tue Feb 16, 2010, 12:47 AM EST

The issue:Lincoln’s 201st birthday.

Our view:Be grateful for his persistence and vision.

Thursday was Abraham Lincoln’s 201st birthday. For many historians, Lincoln was the nation’s greatest president. Almost since its birth, the young nation had been wrestling with issues that seemed to explode just as Lincoln took office. He led the U.S. through a bloody civil war, and he has been celebrated for generations as the Great Emancipator.

Lincoln’s life story has been an inspiration to generations of American youth. He was a scrawny young man who grew up in poverty. A man who was raised to understand the value of hard work but who also thirsted for knowledge. Many a child has heard the story of a young Abe Lincoln reading by candlelight after a hard day’s work.

He was a man whose life defined the word “persistence.” Obstacles that would have stopped a lesser man in his tracks did not stop Lincoln. He suffered many a heartbreak, and yet he persevered. He lost more elections than he won, but he never gave up.

And we all know the stories of Lincoln’s honesty and his wisdom.

An assassin’s bullet claimed Lincoln’s life just as the nation was emerging from that terrible war. Who knows what would have happened if he had lived to deal with the many issues the nation was facing?

Would the United States still have made the many mistakes it made during Reconstruction? Would it still have suffered through the tyranny of the Ku Klux Klan and Jim Crow?

Of course, we’ll never know. But we’d like to think that if he had lived, Lincoln might have set us on a better path.

Regardless, we find ourselves thinking of the many great lessons Lincoln taught us. And we offer gratitude for his persistence and vision.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Opinion

If you say so
In an opinion piece we published Thursday, state Rep. Mike Karickhoff announced why he voted against “right-to-work” legislation. His reason: The community told him to.

February 5, 2012
Cheers and jeers - Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
Karickhoff acted ‘cowardly’

The Rev. Robin Wentworth Mayer and Horst G. Mayer of Kokomo send the Jeer for state Rep. Mike Karickhoff’s silence during the “right-to-work” debate:

“Mr. Karickhoff, for someone who’s new to office, you’ve certainly learned the art of talking out of both sides of your mouth.

February 3, 2012
Let’s drug test our lawmakers
Perhaps it’s appropriate that a measure passed by the Indiana House this week would ask not only welfare recipients but Indiana lawmakers to consent to a drug test.

February 3, 2012
Editorial - Feb. 2, 2012: Peru delivers a message
The issue: Peru’s collection of $20,000 last year from property owners who failed to keep their yards mowed.

Our view: Aggressive enforcement can help a city’s finances, but the benefits go beyond dollars and cents.

February 2, 2012
Karickhoff: Reason behind my ‘right-to-work’ vote
There is no doubt the “right-to-work” debate has brought mixed emotions, not only to our state but District 30 as well. There were only a handful of House Republicans who did not vote in support of this legislation. Let me explain why I felt it was necessary for me to vote in opposition to right to work.

February 2, 2012
Heinig: ‘Right-to-work’ law to arouse continued resistance
I wouldn’t call Gov. Mitch Daniels a charismatic leader, but he does possess some leadership skills. If he didn’t, he couldn’t have brought us this far along the happy trail to his economic Valhalla.

February 2, 2012
Applications made easier
This is an exciting time for the families of our community’s high school seniors. College acceptance letters are being distributed.

February 1, 2012
Take charge for safety
A 36-year-old Kokomo man is due in court today. He is to be arraigned on two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

January 30, 2012
The next chapter for "Right-to-WorK"
Democrats did the right thing Wednesday by finally showing up to allow a vote on the so-called “right-to-work” measure.

January 29, 2012
Cheers and Jeers Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012
‘True heart’ of the heartland

Tony Dungy, NBC football commentator and former coach of the Indianapolis Colts, sends this Cheer for the Super Baskets of Hope program for hospitalized children:

January 28, 2012
More Opinion Headlines

Opinion

Search Results

Discussion

Celebrating a president

Site Map

Contact Us