Racist Comments Not Tolerated In This Blog

I want to let my readers know that I just deleted some vile comments posted by a racist to my blog. If any of you read this comment and were offended, I extend my deep apologies.

This narrow-minded bigot posted some remarks disparaging Barack Obama both about his race and intelligence. To the idiot who posted these remarks, Senator Obama has more class, dignity, and intelligence than you can ever hope to have now or in the future. No doubt this "person" (and I use the term loosely) belongs to some neo-Confederate group and can't get over the fact that the Civil War was lost 150 years ago.

I welcome comments from my readers, even comments which disagree with my opinion, and especially those which point out my mistakes. But I and this blog will NEVER tolerate racist and hateful remarks about any person, living or dead. Such comments are cowardly and will immediately be deleted upon their discovery.

For the vast majority of my readership, I offer my gratitude for your positive comments and compliments about this blog. And please note that I will continue sharing news, facts, stories, and opinion concerning Abraham Lincoln. Thank you!

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The Fall Of Vicksburg Anniversary

Today marks the 145th anniversary of the Fall of Vicksburg (Mississippi), a critical victory for U.S. Grant and the Union Army. After a siege which had begun in May, the final surrender of the city to Grant marked the fall of the last major Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. With the Union victory, the Confederacy was essentially divided into two and the major transportation route for the rebels fell into the North's hands.

The days of July 1-4, 1863 marked the major turning point of the war for the Union. Only July 1-3, the Union won a critical victory in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and then the jubliant news came a day later from Vicksburg when that city finally surrendered.

Abraham Lincoln is famous for his brilliant speeches at Gettysburg, and his two inaugural addresses. But his single sentence statement after the hard-fought seige of Vicksburg is perhaps the most stunning line he ever wrote: "The Father Of Waters again goes unvexed to the sea."

To learn more about the Siege and Fall of Vicksburg, here is a great link. Another article from the National Park Service provides further background.

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Abe Lincoln In A Noose?

Back on June 13, I posted an article about the city of Hartford, Connecticut dedicating a sculpture garden in honor of our nation's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. In that original post, I included a photo of a sculpture of Lincoln meeting Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

The above image is from the original article in The Hartford Courant newspaper. I chose not to include it in my post because of the gentleman in the photo and the obvious fact that this particular sculpture of Abe was not complete, with the hoisting rope still visible in the image.

Imagine my surprise when I then found this column, also in the Courant, relating the fact that some readers called the paper, expressing outrage that this photo depicts Lincoln in a noose! One reader called and stated:

"We have been talking about nooses and what they mean to the black community for the past six months. When we see pictures like that show upon the front page of the paper, it's clear to us in the black community that the newspaper isn't representing us."

The editorial about this photo goes on to explain that the editors of the Courant realized that the photo might cause some consternation, but they elected to run the photo on page 1 anyway.

I realize that the noose is a symbol of hatred and racial intimidation to this day, and for good reason. However, I cannot believe that any reasonable viewer of this photo could possibly interpret the hoisting rope around this Lincoln statue as a noose.

What do you think?

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What Happened To The Lincoln Statue??

What happened to this beautiful monument dedicated to Abraham Lincoln on July 4, 1909 in Scranton, Pennsylvania? Today, all traces of this 16-foot high monument have vanished. And no one living seems to know why it's gone or where it went.

Dedicated at the Nay Aug Park in Scranton in the centennial year of Lincoln's birth, the monument was obviously beautifully carved and contained an impressive looking bust of Lincoln at the top. There were bronze lions and eagles around the base of the structure as well. All in all, it might have been one of the most beautiful monuments ever erected to Lincoln.

This article from the Associated Press tells the story of the monument and relates how another photo from the dedication day exists showing men, women, and children surrounding it. A local postcard collector found this real photo card I've shown in the above image, but he doesn't remember the statue at all while swimming at the park in Scranton as a boy in the 1930's and 1940's. Obviously, the monument wasn't in place at the park then for even 30 or 40 years.

Historians in Scranton and the surrounding areas are completely baffled. No documentation has been found relating what happened to the statue. It's as if this monument has vanished into thin air. Let's hope that the case of the missing Abe might be solved in time for the bicentennial of his birth next year.

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New Statue Destined For President Lincoln's Cottage

Here is a clay and plaster model of a new statue which will be installed at President Lincoln's Cottage in Washington, D.C. This model is 3 percent larger than life to allow for settling in the bronze-casting process for the actual statue.

The sculptors are Stuart Williamson and Jiwoong Cheh, working for the design shop StudioIES in Brooklyn, New York. The statue differs from so many others of Abe in that this one actually shows him with a slight smile, as if Lincoln is greeting a valued friend or relative upon arrival at his summer home. It looks like it's going to be beautiful.

The story of the statue may be found here in The New York Times. President Lincoln's Cottage, the former Soldiers' Home, in Washington, D.C. has recently reopened after an extensive restoration. It is thought by historians that this mansion was where Lincoln wrote The Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln used it as a refuge from the oppressive heat of the city and to escape the burdens of the White House. It was the Camp David of the day. An interesting article here, also from the Times, discusses the history and restoration efforts of the Cottage.

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Incredible "New" Photos Of Lincoln A Must See

A person named "Maria" just contacted me through this blog to let me know about some incredible "new" photos of Abraham Lincoln her company has created. Her firm, Studio Macbeth, has been in existence since 1979 and has the goal of " realism while retaining a painterly sensibility to light and form" in its digital photography.

I would not insult her company or violate copyrights by posting these images of Lincoln in this post, but you may view them for yourself here. One photo shows "Lincoln" receiving a field briefing by a Union officer, while the other photo shows "Lincoln" sitting at a dining room table. Please remember that these are created photos of a digitized Lincoln. I was struck by how realistic looking these pictures are. Do yourself a favor and take a look.

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The Abe Lincoln Bear

Searching for all things related to Abraham Lincoln this morning on the web (while I should be working...can you tell I'm bored?), I stumbled upon this adorable life-sized fiberglass bear made to look like Old Abe himself. Intrigued and laughing out loud, I had to research this bear a little further.

This Lincoln bear is located in the small city of Boyertown, Pennsylvania (in Berks County, in the Reading area). The local high school team is the Bears. A few years ago, some folks in the town started "Bear Fever," a collaborative public arts project. The goal of the effort is to decorate the town and surrounding communities with 40-60 fiberglass bears as a way to develop school and town spirit. Local businesses in town "sponsor" a bear, all of which are uniquely designed and painted. The townspeople got the idea after learning about other cities in the U.S. decorating with cows (Chicago) and pandas (Washington, D.C.)

Abe-Bear-Ham (as he's affectionately called) has a top hat, a beard, and a coat resembling the frock that Lincoln wore. Note the "5 dollar bills" serving as a hat band. Too cute. The story of the Lincoln bear, additional photos, and an interview with the artist may be found here.

The real Lincoln had to "bear" much in his life, so what better animal to represent him?

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