The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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November 18, 2008

Your View — Lincoln’s words still challenge us to action

Bryce O. Stenzel, St. Clair

Seven score and five years ago today, Abraham Lincoln stood on the battleground at Gettysburg to plead for national unity and purpose, in the face of civil war.

Lincoln reminded his audience that the best way to honor America’s war dead was for the living to rededicate themselves to the principles upon which America was founded: Namely, the proposition that “all men are created equal.”

One hundred forty five years later, Lincoln’s words challenge us to do the same thing. We must put aside our partisan bickering, now that the election has passed, and work together as Americans to find solutions to the many problems our nation faces.

Only then will we enjoy “a new birth of freedom” ensuring that “our government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

We owe “those brave men living and dead” who fought for the freedoms we enjoy, no less.

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