There were superficial reasons—when he thundered on the political scene at the Democratic Convention in 2004 and then rode on the wave of that thunder to his election in 2008—to compare Barack Obama with Abraham Lincoln. There was the Illinois connection, for instance, and the gifted orator connection, and the “new birth of freedom” connection. Add to these the evident high esteem, even reverence, held by Obama for that towering mentor of his spirit, and it is easy to link the two of them. But what about things deeper than the surface?
A sobering intimation arose in me, in the wake of the euphoria following Obama’s election, that if the similarities between him and Lincoln did, in fact, go deeper, then it would most clearly be revealed if adversity, not smooth sailing, is what he would meet, if failure, not success, is what he would have to deal with. For it was the manner in which Lincoln met adversity and failure which taught us the most.
It is safe to say, six years later, that adversity indeed is what Obama has faced, along with the failure to achieve much that he had hoped to achieve. We now know with dismaying clarity how white-hot is the determination of a sizable minority that this President utterly fail, that his major healthcare achievement be gutted and that his every new proposal be obstructed.
The point here is not to argue politics and policies. The point is to bring the memory of Abraham Lincoln to bear on the present presidency, to see what it might tell us about the character of Barack Obama.
If anyone knew adversity from the beginning of his presidency, it was Abraham Lincoln. Even before he took office, seven Deep South states had seceded because he had been elected. Though he would not, because constitutionally he could not, touch slavery where it already existed, he made it clear, as did the Republican platform he ran on, that he would do everything in his power to prevent its extension. And then on the very day he was sworn in, he received a telegram about the crisis brewing at Ft. Sumter in Charleston Harbor that could inaugurate civil war. Adversity from the start, and few, if any, pleased.
Listen to Frederick Douglass, himself one of Lincoln’s harshest early critics:
“Reproaches came thick and thin upon him from within and from without, and from opposite quarters. He was assailed by abolitionists; he was assailed by slaveholders...Viewed from the genuine abolition ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed tardy, cold, dull, and indifferent; but measuring him by the sentiment of his country, a sentiment he was bound as a statesman to consult, he was swift, zealous, radical, and determined.”
Another of his early critics from the Left, Harriet Beecher Stowe, at first lamented Lincoln’s tardiness, coldness, dullness and indifference, but over time came to see deeper.
“Lincoln is a strong man, but his strength is of a peculiar kind...It is the strength not so much of a stone buttress as of a wire cable. It is a strength swaying to every influence, yielding on this side and on that to popular needs, yet tenaciously and inflexibly bound to carry its great end.”
Fast forward to Barack Obama. While his most vituperative critics are on the Right, the Left has hardly been kind to him when he has compromised on so much, delayed acting on so much, seemingly vacillated on so much. Assailed from both sides certainly fits, as does wire cable, swaying and yielding this way and that, yet tenaciously holding to the great end of a more just and compassionate nation.
But we haven’t yet touched what to me is the biggest thing, the thing that reveals character at its deepest. Breadth of vision and strength of will are indeed essential, but so too are capacity for empathy and kindness of heart. We go back to Abraham Lincoln for perhaps the purest expression.
“With malice toward none, with charity for all...What I deal with is too vast for malicious dealing...As I have not felt, so I have not expressed any harsh sentiment towards our southern brethren. I have constantly declared, as I really believed, the only difference between them and us, is the difference of circumstances. I have meant to assail the motives of no party, or individual; and if I have, in any instance (of which I am not conscious) departed from my purpose, I regret it.”
He didn’t just talk it, he lived it. No wonder Abraham Lincoln is loved by so many.
And no wonder many of us still stand back amazed at Barack Obama, yes, partially for his vision that our country must return to being of the people and not of the corporations, and yes, partially for what he has managed to achieve despite entrenched opposition, but equally for how he is responding to his failures, for how he is not responding in malice to the unrelenting disparagement heaped upon him. Will he continue to live according to the values which Lincoln not only espoused but lived? We of course don’t know, as disillusionment has been known to spring like a brigand from the bush. But if six years of testing have not found Obama wanting, if he has neither returned rancor for rancor nor stopped tenaciously fighting for what he believes, we may have here, I submit to your consideration, the real McCoy, meaning a worthy carrier of the spirit of Abraham Lincoln.
Even though Maya Angelou addressed the following to her sisters, may each of us, in her or his heart, hear the exhortation from this phenomenal woman, who has just left us but whose spirit will never leave us, never to disown either our sweetness or our steel.
“Women should be tough, tender, laugh as much as possible, and live long lives. The struggle for equality continues unabated, and the woman warrior who is armed with wit and courage will be among the first to celebrate victory...You keep your sweetness always but inside that sweetness is a ball of steel.”
May your brothers as well as sisters be listening, Maya. May Barack Obama be listening. May each citizen not only of America but of Earth be listening for the sake of the only family. In our darker moments may we neither give up nor lash out. May we hold to sweetness without relinquishing the wire cable, the steel ball. May we listen to Abraham Lincoln from the wings urging us to allow ourselves once again to be touched by the better angels of our nature.
Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!
Looking for a simple weight support solution? Lipovive combines powerful natural extracts to help enhance fat metabolism, reduce cravings, and support daily energy without harsh side effects.
https://www.morningstar.com/news/accesswire/1138075msn/lipovive-reviews-shocking-2026-report-what-doctors-are-finally-admitting-about-this-based-fat-loss-formula
http://dlm.fflch.usp.br/sites/dlm.fflch.usp.br/files/webform/mini_relatorio_discente_2021_ita/sid/CitrusBurn1Secret-gh3va.pdf
https://dlm.fflch.usp.br/sites/dlm.fflch.usp.br/files/webform/mini_relatorio_discente_2021_ita/sid/CitrusBurn2Secret-cv4na.pdf
https://dlm.fflch.usp.br/sites/dlm.fflch.usp.br/files/webform/mini_relatorio_discente_2021_ita/sid/CitrusBurn3Secret-kl5ba.pdf
https://dlm.fflch.usp.br/sites/dlm.fflch.usp.br/files/webform/mini_relatorio_discente_2021_ita/sid/CitrusBurn4Secret-qw4bz.pdf
https://dlm.fflch.usp.br/sites/dlm.fflch.usp.br/files/webform/mini_relatorio_discente_2021_ita/sid/CitrusBurn5Secret-zc7ma.pdf
https://lalinguanostra.com/blogs/82268/Beirut-Elite-Escorts-for-Luxury-Lifestyle-Needs
https://guestcountry.com/lebanesegirl/elite-beirut-escorts-for-discreet-companionship https://www.griddixcat.com/blogs/17201/Luxury-Escorts-in-Beirut-for-Exclusive-Social-Events https://www.thepetservicesweb.com/board/board_topic/2701171/7933850.htm https://www.myaspenridge.com/board/board_topic/3180173/7933852.htm https://gterahub.com/community/read-blog/6323_trusted-beirut-escorts-for-private-engagements.html https://westandfree.com/read-blog/4752_professional-beirut-companions-for-elegant-evenings.html https://bbs.superbuy.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=759473&extra= https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7933888.htm https://www.edufex.com/forums/discussion/general/vip-beirut-escorts-for-high-profile-occasions https://lalinguanostra.com/blogs/82306/Elite-Lebanon-Escorts-for-Discreet-Companionship https://guestcountry.com/lebanesegirl/luxury-escorts-in-lebanon-for-private-engagements
https://www.thepetservicesweb.com/board/board_topic/2701171/7933929.htm
https://www.myaspenridge.com/board/board_topic/3180173/7933932.htm
https://www.griddixcat.com/blogs/17212/Premium-Lebanon-Escorts-for-High-Profile-Clients
https://gterahub.com/community/read-blog/6326_classy-lebanon-companions-for-elegant-evenings.html
https://www.coffeesix-store.com/board/board_topic/7560063/7933946.htm
https://bbs.superbuy.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=759478&extra=
https://www.edufex.com/forums/discussion/general/professional-escorts-in-lebanon-for-personalized-services
https://westandfree.com/read-blog/4754_exclusive-lebanon-escort-agency-for-refined-clients.html
https://www.facebook.com/Purimea.GLP.1.Drink.Germany.Austria.Switzerland/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/purimea.glp1.drink.germany.austria.switzerland
https://www.facebook.com/groups/purimea.glp1.drink.bewertungen/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/purimea.glp1.drink.offiziell/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/purimea.glp1.drink.website
https://www.facebook.com/events/1824615148203866
https://groups.google.com/g/purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria-switzerland/c/bbV6qTco8n0
https://thenutritiondeal.blogspot.com/2026/03/purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria.html
https://purimeaglp1drinks.blogspot.com/2026/03/purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria.html
https://sites.google.com/view/purimea-glp-1-drink-site
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1Rq99tbeUofm3y5Z11L6q8q0L0SIKpE4w?
https://cscourse.ustc.edu.cn/vdir/Gitlab/compiler_staff/jianmu-supplemental/-/issues/27458
https://hackmd.io/@besttopsupplement/rknH8mVtWe
https://scribehow.com/viewer/Purimea_GLP-1_Drink_Germany_Austria_Switzerland_Amazon-Bewertungen_Preis_Vorteile_Inhaltsstoffe_und_Bezugsquellen__1XnuI0b4QKOX4zqD0uZGPQ
https://scribehow.com/viewer/Purimea_GLP-1_Drink_Germany_Austria_Switzerland_Wir_haben_es_90_Tage_lang_getestet_Funktioniert_es_wirklich_oder_ist_es_nur_ein_Hype__zk5RcTQsQvqNiCz5-BhGdA
https://scribehow.com/viewer/Purimea_GLP-1_Drink_Germany_Austria_Switzerland_Unabhangiger_vollstandiger_Verbraucherbericht_mit_Rezensionen_Beschwerden_und_Ergebnissen_4_Marz_2026__IBdosmpKT7yp5VAkP3kLyw
https://scribehow.com/viewer/Purimea_GLP-1_Drink_Germany_Austria_Switzerland_Unvoreingenommenes_vollstandiges_und_ehrliches_Kundenfeedback_and_Beschwerden_4_Marz_2026__d47cHr27QIuys4kkqXiuuA
https://purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria-switzerland-3.jimdosite.com/
https://eventprime.co/o/purimeaglp1drinkgermanyaustriaswitzerland
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria-switzerland
https://site-e8ig3imj1.godaddysites.com/
https://purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria-swi.webflow.io/
https://www.commudle.com/users/a8d3f93777ac2f27d626db35e7dd1514
https://contra.com/community/cQwE7ciY-purimea-glp-1-drink-review-top-consumer
https://contra.com/community/qMZbtr1J-purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria-switzerland
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/884957395545014071
https://www.grepmed.com/Purimea_GLP_1_Drink_Germany_Austria_Switzerland
https://slonec.com/candidate/purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria-switzerland/
https://open.firstory.me/embed/story/cmmah5rwe1svj01y97bo27uzj
https://www.zupyak.com/p/4924951/t/purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria-switzerland-amazon-bewertungen-preis-vorteile-inhaltsstoffe-und-bezugsquellen
https://shaveiceshaveice.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=89113&sid=6e0e4becef74b4bfeeb59de97ca5d1cf
https://forum.motoshkola.od.ua/threads/purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria-switzerland-amazon-bewertungen-preis-vorteile-inhaltsstoffe-und-bezugsquellen.175371/
https://leetcode.com/discuss/post/7622183/purimea-glp-1-drink-by-besttopsupplement-z7dh/
https://wanderlog.com/view/nohdlolnva/purimea-glp-1-drink-germany-austria-switzerland-amazon-bewertungen-preis-vorteile-inhaltsstoffe-und-bezugsquellen/
https://www.facebook.com/Aquathrive.LX.Capsules.Australia/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aquathrivelxaustralia.au/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aquathrivelxaustraliareviews/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aquathrivelxcapsulesaustralia/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aquathrivelxcapsulesaustraliareviews
https://www.facebook.com/AquathriveLXCanadaOfficial
https://www.facebook.com/Wonderful.Honey.Male.Enhancement.Get/
https://www.facebook.com/HealthyLeafCBDGummiesWebsite/
https://www.facebook.com/Dominex.Male.Enhancement.Canada.Ca/
https://www.facebook.com/VitalHempGummiesAustraliaWebsite/
https://www.grepmed.com/VitalHempGummiesAustraliaWebsite
https://www.facebook.com/Vital.Boost.XL.Canada/
https://www.facebook.com/VitalHempGummiesNewZealand.NZ/
https://www.facebook.com/Hardero.Male.Enhancement.Capsules.Australia/
https://www.facebook.com/Hardero.Male.Enhancement.Australia.AU/
https://www.facebook.com/Hardero.Male.Enhancement.Aus
https://www.facebook.com/Hardero.Male.Enhancement.Australia.AUS
https://www.facebook.com/HarderoMaleEnhancement.NZ/
https://www.facebook.com/Hardero.Male.Enhancement.New.Zealand.NZ
https://www.facebook.com/ThriveXXL.Gummies.Reviews
https://www.facebook.com/Vigorox.Prime.Australia/
https://www.facebook.com/HorsePeakCapsules/
https://www.facebook.com/Horse.Peak.Pills.US.NZ.UK.CA.AU.PH/
https://www.facebook.com/VigoroxPrime.Get/
https://www.facebook.com/vigorox.prime
https://en-vigoroxprime.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Life.Gold.Farms.CBD.Gummies.Site
https://www.facebook.com/GLPura.Kapsler.Denmark
https://www.facebook.com/GLPura.Capsules.France.Belgium
https://www.facebook.com/VitalHempGummiesNewZealand.NZ/
https://www.facebook.com/VitalHempGummiesAustraliaWebsite/
https://farmhealthorganicscbdgummies.net/
https://www.facebook.com/Farm.Health.Organics/
https://www.facebook.com/FarmsHealthOrganicsCBDGummies.Get/
https://www.facebook.com/Fitralin.UK.Review/
https://www.facebook.com/Sensselo.Pump.US.UK.CA.AU.NZ/
https://www.facebook.com/SX66.ME.Spain/
https://dcks-videahu.readme.io/
https://agyugrszvideahu.readme.io/
https://amenyasszonyvideahu.readme.io/
https://abntjavideahu.readme.io/
https://remindersofhimvideahu.readme.io/
https://epicvideahu.readme.io/
https://ittrzemmagamotthonvideahu.readme.io/
https://amegmentvideahu.readme.io/
https://magyarmenyegzvideahu.readme.io/
https://beldestemvideahu.readme.io/
https://ahailmarykldetsvideahu-ncqs.readme.io/
https://aszerelemfjvideahu.readme.io/
https://supermariogalaxisvideahu.readme.io/
https://goatvideahu.readme.io/
https://akibjt2videahu.readme.io/
https://arcovideahu.readme.io/
https://megfognaklnivideahu.readme.io/
https://pipinahoppszvideahu.readme.io/
https://scream7bgaudio.readme.io/
https://bridebgaudio.readme.io/
https://hoppersaudiobg.readme.io/
https://projecthailmarybgaudio.readme.io/
https://shelterbgaudio.readme.io/
https://readyornot2audiobg.readme.io/
https://forbiddenfruitsbgaudio.readme.io/
https://theywillkillyoubgaudio.readme.io/
https://supermariogalaxybgaudio.readme.io/
https://remindersbgaudio.readme.io/
https://tafitibgaudio.readme.io/
https://toxicbgaudio.readme.io/
https://www.researchhub.com/post/15000/yan-yana-filmi-izle-2026-full-hd-film-izle
https://www.researchhub.com/post/15003/hoplayanlar-filmi-izle-2026-full-hd-film-izle
https://www.researchhub.com/post/15004/gelin-filmi-izle-2026-full-hd-film-izle
https://www.researchhub.com/post/15005/ugultulu-tepeler-filmi-izle-2026-full-hd-film-izle
https://www.researchhub.com/post/15006/disco-filmi-izle-2026-full-hd-film-izle
https://www.researchhub.com/post/15007/cglk-7-filmi-izle-2026-full-hd-film-izle
https://www.researchhub.com/post/15008/kurtulus-projesi-filmi-izle-2026-full-hd-film-izle
https://www.researchhub.com/post/15009/sgnak-filmi-izle-2026-full-hd-film-izle
https://www.researchhub.com/post/15010/ready-or-not-2-filmi-izle-2026-full-hd-film-izle
https://www.researchhub.com/post/15011/senden-geriye-kalan-filmi-izle-2026-full-hd-film-izle
https://paiza.io/projects/a1SlqzyxaaiQQL1yHrgRxg
https://www.surveyking.com/survey/synqr
https://wokwi.com/projects/457636851725222913
https://id.carousell.com/p/krztydvcsdfg-1424772965/
https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/141932448
https://pastebin.com/LwirsraJ
https://etextpad.com/public/zvfomts3en
https://glot.io/snippets/hgd9qbers1
https://onlinegdb.com/QNYpWyCTEY
https://www.TwosApp.com/69a92d7316d1e39c97be01e2
https://pastelink.net/6k39194m
https://scrapbox.io/xxbnm/htyutrzht
https://gns3.com/community/discussions/oiewaetud
https://freepaste.link/zk5ehxnkya
https://notes.io/esMtu
https://paste.enginehub.org/uvb-ISKkw
https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-OmwqzUJ4mRtqT6bCOCI/-OmwywW5vy4SCsTe-cRn/source
https://paste.rs/ROX6k.txt
https://paste.centos.org/view/0a13e6c0
https://p.ip.fi/utnU
https://telegra.ph/fgtyyd-03-05
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/6FSUILpVK3b
https://jsbin.com/dalugasiya/edit?html
https://matters.town/a/d25kelgnhkr8
https://hackmd.io/@cFjc3DeGSNCGc2UAoJjRnQ/ryKcAiLYWe
Buy Sophisticated Hand Guns Now
“>
Adopt Home Bred Tiny PomChi Puppies Near me
Koop psychedelica van farmaceutische kwaliteit
voor echte psychonauten in de EU
Reinrassige Toy Shih Tzus in Ihrer Nähe adoptieren 🐶
╬ EXTENDING OUR COLORFUL FEATHERS OF FRIENDSHIP ╬
“>
Kaufen Sie diskret die besten Handfeuerwaffen in Europa
Order Pure Molecule relief Meds Canada ✅
Deutsch-Sprachzertifikate ohne Prüfungen bestellen
Champion-Europäische Bulldoggenwelpen zur Adoption
٤
Europas exklusivstes Zuhause für gesunde Papageien
Adopt Lion face Champion Chow Puppies USA
Adopt Exotic Pets USA✅
Find Pedigree Sphynx and Devon Rex Kittens •̀ᴗ• USA
“>
Adopt Dark Red Toy Poodles USA
“> Buy Green Pro Meds USA
https://www.facebook.com/Clima.Heat.Mini.Portable.Heater.Reviews/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/climaminiheaterreviews/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/climaminiheaterofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/climaheatminiportableheater/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/climaheatminiportableheaterreviews/
https://www.facebook.com/events/2143420336405357
https://thenutritiondeal.blogspot.com/2026/03/clima-heat-mini-portable-heater.html
https://climaheatminiportableheater.blogspot.com/2026/03/clima-heat-mini-portable-heater-amazon.html
https://sites.google.com/view/clima-mini-heater-reviews/
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1F-75eA2aeOvU84gp1UuoqcloA4YFJLIf?
https://cscourse.ustc.edu.cn/vdir/Gitlab/compiler_staff/jianmu-supplemental/-/issues/27472
https://hackmd.io/@besttopsupplement/BySBcpGYbe
https://scribehow.com/viewer/Clima_Mini_Heater_Amazon_Reviews_Price_Benefits_Ingredients_and_Where_to_Buy__1GfRBXsfQEG_CC5lbXqruQ
https://scribehow.com/viewer/Clima_Mini_Heater_Unbiased_Complete_Consumer_Report_With_Reviews_Complaints_And_Findings_4_March_2026__zvso6tKsReiwO9o5ijVMTA
https://scribehow.com/viewer/Clima_Heat_Mini_Portable_Heater_Unbiased_Complete_Consumer_Report_With_Reviews_Complaints_And_Findings_4_March_2026__Gm5VvYE5RCWIWBW-ReYqfg
https://scribehow.com/viewer/Clima_Heat_Mini_Portable_Heater_Honest_Reviews_and_Complaints_2026_Consumer_Reports_Reveal_Truth_4_March_2026__Qe4iFgmVSdOSahbebl5mGw
https://clima-heat-mini-portable-heater-3.jimdosite.com/
https://eventprime.co/o/clima_heat_mini_portable_heater
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/climaheatminiportableheater
https://www.facebook.com/Purimea.GLP.1.Drink.Germany.Austria.Switzerland/
https://www.facebook.com/Aquathrive.LX.Capsules.Australia/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aquathrivelxaustralia.au/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aquathrivelxaustraliareviews/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aquathrivelxcapsulesaustralia/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aquathrivelxcapsulesaustraliareviews
https://www.facebook.com/AquathriveLXCanadaOfficial
https://www.facebook.com/Wonderful.Honey.Male.Enhancement.Get/
https://www.facebook.com/HealthyLeafCBDGummiesWebsite/
https://www.facebook.com/Dominex.Male.Enhancement.Canada.Ca/
https://www.facebook.com/VitalHempGummiesAustraliaWebsite/
https://www.grepmed.com/VitalHempGummiesAustraliaWebsite
https://www.facebook.com/Vital.Boost.XL.Canada/
https://www.facebook.com/VitalHempGummiesNewZealand.NZ/
https://www.facebook.com/Hardero.Male.Enhancement.Capsules.Australia/
https://www.facebook.com/Hardero.Male.Enhancement.Australia.AU/
https://www.facebook.com/Hardero.Male.Enhancement.Aus
https://www.facebook.com/Hardero.Male.Enhancement.Australia.AUS
https://www.facebook.com/HarderoMaleEnhancement.NZ/
https://www.facebook.com/Hardero.Male.Enhancement.New.Zealand.NZ
https://www.facebook.com/ThriveXXL.Gummies.Reviews
https://www.facebook.com/Vigorox.Prime.Australia/
https://www.facebook.com/HorsePeakCapsules/
https://www.facebook.com/Horse.Peak.Pills.US.NZ.UK.CA.AU.PH/
https://www.facebook.com/VigoroxPrime.Get/
https://www.facebook.com/vigorox.prime
https://en-vigoroxprime.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Life.Gold.Farms.CBD.Gummies.Site
https://www.facebook.com/GLPura.Kapsler.Denmark
https://www.facebook.com/GLPura.Capsules.France.Belgium
https://www.facebook.com/VitalHempGummiesNewZealand.NZ/
https://www.facebook.com/VitalHempGummiesAustraliaWebsite/
https://farmhealthorganicscbdgummies.net/
https://www.facebook.com/Farm.Health.Organics/
https://www.facebook.com/FarmsHealthOrganicsCBDGummies.Get/
https://www.facebook.com/Fitralin.UK.Review/
https://www.facebook.com/Sensselo.Pump.US.UK.CA.AU.NZ/
https://www.facebook.com/SX66.ME.Spain/