I reread this annually - along with the Declaration. Beyond that I can think of nothing to add.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

 

In my opinion those 278 words are amongst the most eloquent and truist words ever spoken.

Yesterday as we drove through "Old Town" Manassas (about ten miles south of us) I commented on how "ironic" I thought that it was that they had a banner flying over the street suggesting celebrating our nation's birthday in Manassas. As Manassas played such a major role on the Confederate side of the war trying to break up the Union.

BTW, for what it is worth. we are both originally from north of the Mason/Dixon line.

 

This speech was practically spontaneous. What power of words; no wonder it has endured. Even if our leaders today could master such verse - which they cannot - they wouldn't do it anyhow.

 

This speech was practically spontaneous. What power of words; no wonder it has endured. Even if our leaders today could master such verse - which they cannot - they wouldn't do it anyhow.

 

IMHO we no longer have leaders. We have politicians that have their fortunes tyied to political polling. :-(

 

It's mind-boggling that that speach was delivered after about 2.5 hours of the traditional "oratory" of the day. Lincoln really nailed it, IMHO.

 

I wonder why we can no longer put our words together with the power and strength that leaders of the past were able to. Fine oratory is truly a thing of the past.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Only a true wordsmith could use so few words to make such a powerful statement. Lincoln said more in his short speech than others have tried to say in hours.

 

Rob: Sad indeed. I've read that it is driven my improvements in communication media and the desire to reach the masses. Accordingly, the Washington, Jefferson and Madison timeframe spoke/wrote at the college level; Lincoln era spoke/wrote at the high school graduate level; 1960s was at the 9/10th grade levell; and today is at the 7/8th grade level. Today's speech writers and newspapers and telemedia purposefully propagate this to reach the widest possible audience. It may be positive for the audience but not necessarily for our culture.

 

I don't know. I think the problem is that the purpose of oratory has changed. In the past it was used to make a statement, today it is a soundbite, a headline, intended to sell more paper or attract a bigger audience.

I just wish people would take the time to think about the way they put their words together and craft their comments. Fine oratory is a work of art, unfortunately it is very quickly becoming a lost art.

 

I think so too. My comments came from a literacy historian.