Tag Archives: slavery

Three presidents and forks in the road: two steps forward and . . . .

On a sunny afternoon in November, I walked up to the Lincoln Memorial and felt a lump rise in my throat, as it has on this transcontinental trek in other places that represent human triumph and suffering: South Pass in … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, slavery, Thirteenth Amendment, Thomas Jefferson, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pilgrimage to Montgomery

In Charlottesville, I happened by a bright blue plaque on what was until recently Jackson Park, named for Stonewall Jackson. Also until recently, the park featured an equestrian statue of Jackson, installed 100 years ago, after Paul Goodloe McIntire deeded … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Snapshots of a myth

Defenders of statues of Confederate generals and soldiers contend these monuments should not be removed, ever, because they are “history.” Monuments have nothing to do with history. They are snapshots of a narrative. My favorite monument-narrative is the Lincoln Memorial. … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Abraham Lincoln and the purpose of government

Abraham Lincoln was born 206 years ago today. Enshrined as our greatest president, he spent his three-decade political career writing and speaking about the framers’ intention, four score and seven years later. This week I visited the Ford’s Theatre Lincoln … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Constitution | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments