The following are a collection of links to research both Lincoln and his influences

Last updated:  January 5, 2011

I expanded my studies, in light of my concerns on 1/1/12 of Lincoln possibly being a racist.  I am somewhat convinced (but that could change in theory based on future studies), that Lincoln was not a racist.  The following text is from http://housedivided.dickinson.edu/debates/was_lincoln_racist.html

"Was Lincoln a Racist?

Well this is an important question: was Lincoln a racist? People ask this all the time. In our terms, with our language and our understanding, he sounds like a racist in some of his public statements. But that’s not the way to evaluate the question. We have to ask ourselves what “racism” meant then. Lincoln based his views about race on the science and culture of the nineteenth century, like everyone did then, and in their world they thought there was a hierarchy of races. Science seemed to approve it and almost everyone accepted it. The question is what you did about it, and the one thing that Lincoln didn’t want to do about it was enslave the people who were at the bottom of what they perceived to be the natural hierarchy, and that makes him someone who is actually in direct opposition to racism of the nineteenth century. He thought blacks were people, he said they deserved all the natural rights that were embodied by the Declaration of Independence: He always believed that. When I think about this question the way that I try to answer it for my students is to say that there were three fundamental ways to look at black people in America in the nineteenth century: one was to see them as human, one was to see them as property, and the third was to see them as citizens. Lincoln always saw blacks as people. He never accepted the idea that they could be property, but he evolved and grew on the question of whether or not they should hold full citizenship. That was something that he probably was skeptical about at the beginning of his life, and then was certain to avoid talking about in the middle of his political career because it was political suicide to do so. And then by the end of the war, he seemed to be coming around to the idea that because of all the sacrifices of black men and women for the Union cause, especially for those 200,000+ men who served in the Union armed forces, that blacks deserved full equality and citizenship. And so it’s not clear but it seems likely that by the end of his life he was ready to take that leap and move from seeing blacks as fellow humans to seeing them as full citizens. "


 

January 1, 2012

I write this note, only with goodness in mind. I have been studying Abraham Lincoln for 3 years. Up until yesterday evening, I only saw goodness in A. Lincoln. I watched the awesome PBS documentary "Looking for Lincoln," by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and saw a side of A.L. that I did not consciously remember in my studies.

I did previously read the Lincoln Douglas debates from 1858, and I guess... my emotions, or subconscious allowed me to ignore the words of a Lincoln. Here is a quote from Lincoln in the debates of 1858: "I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races, that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race."

So my studies of Lincoln and my perception of his internal perfection have led me to a side I just didn't realize existed. I will keep searching, and I reckon that my fondness of Lincoln will still be strong, but now I will see a side of him that existed, and perhaps his views changed over the next 7 years and a few months after that comment.

Until yesterday, I thought he was a man without a trace of racism or prejudice. I realize that actions speak louder than words. When one reads the Gettysburg address, it is filled with love and respect.

I recall an old Bruce Springsteen quote, where he suggested that the fan of Springsteen should "trust the art not the artist."


Peace, Love and Happiness to all during 2012 and beyond.

Last updated:  December 5, 2011

I have read quite a few books on Lincoln since my last update in 2009.  The list is below.  So far, my favorite book on Lincoln is 'Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer' by Fred Kaplan. At some point, I will look to read the collected works.  I do have a link below for "The Collected Works."

Last updated:  May 21, 2009

A page dedicated to Abraham Lincoln.  Up until April 2009, I had never really studied Lincoln.  I am in the midst of a book titled 'Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer' by Fred Kaplan.  This page will serve as a reference tool for me for items mentioned in the book and  things to study and remind myself in the future.  Many of these items are studies and philosophies that Lincoln embraced during his life.  Charlie Munger has mentioned the following: "Admire and learn from those who are dead - as well as the living."  I will strive to study the influence and mentors of Lincolns life.

Books I have read in regards to Lincoln