House Divided

 

 

I have struggled with a research paper written by one of our announcers, Jeremy Smith, currently taking an on-line class at Penn State University. His conclusions are disturbing and somewhat ominous.

Smith argues history is repeating itself, as it often does. He points to a critical time in our nation’s history, 1858. The setting was the old state capitol in Springfield and the speaker was the new candidate for the United States Senate, Abraham Lincoln. Only three hours after being nominated, Lincoln delivered his stirring “House Divided” speech which many believe cost him the election but cemented him in as the Republican’s presidential nominee in 1860.

In the speech, Lincoln borrows liberally from the Holy Bible in predicting the country could not survive the expansion of slavery into new territories and states. Of course, his words were prophetic. The Civil War ensued and President Lincoln was left with the unenviable task of winning the peace and bringing the country back together.

Smith asserts our country is in the exact same place. We don’t fight over slavery, but the fight over race has not really gone away in 150 years. He sees the same lines….not the Union and the Confederacy…rather red states versus blue.

…and he worries we are right back in 1858…drawing lines…living in a house divided. The argument is compelling.

The outcome is to be determined.