Guest column: Look to Lincoln for inspiration in divisive times – VC Star

Itis appropriate that we celebrate George Washingtons birthday and Abraham Lincolns birthday together. Washington was the founder of our nation and Lincoln was its savior. Washingtons task was completed with the winning of the American Revolution and the installation of our government, but Lincolns taskof saving the union,despite its successful conclusion at, is one that is really never-ending if we would retain ourdemocracy.

Right now there is renewed danger to our nation: the discrediting of our election process.This is weakening faith in our democratic system and fostering bitter division in our society. I believe we can look to Lincoln for inspiration in these trying and divisive times.

In 1863 at the site of the Civil War battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln said, Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation ... now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.In so saying, he indicated that our democracy was being tested and implying that to endure we would have to withstand continued testing in the future.He referred to our nation as an on-going experiment in self-government.

Those of us who have been raised in the United States and have attended elementary and secondary schools here, have been inculcated in the history and the customs of our nation.In the process, by learning to salute the flag, singing the national anthem, etc., I believe the feeling has become ingrained in us that our nation is strong, steadfast and perpetual.

But history, as our founding fathers noted, casts doubt on the likely success of democracies.James Madison, the major contributor to the writing of our Constitution, spoke of the fragility of democracies.In the Federalist Papers he pointed out that the famous republics of Greece and Rome had eventually resulted in anarchy.Both had been overthrown by military leaders: Athens by Alexander the Great and his successors and Rome by Julius Caesar.

Lincoln presided over a rebellion which put the existence of our nation in its greatest peril: the Civil War.Slavery and its possible extension were the major causesof the war.Lincoln, in his first inaugural address, tried to prevent the war by attempting to allay the fears of the southern states, saying he would not interfere with slavery where it existed.This offer wasrejectedand the war came on.

After a year of bloody fighting, the abolitionist editor, Horace Greeley, criticized Lincoln for not yet having freed the slaves.Lincoln responded, I would save the union.My paramountobject is to save the union and not either to save or destroy slavery.He hated slavery, but, first things first.He noted that the nation must be saved to enable it to eliminate slavery by amending the Constitution, and further, to quote the Constitution, to bring the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

But isnt the foundation of our nation being severely tested at this time?Free and fair elections and the acceptance of their results are the underpinnings of our democracy. Even now, fifteen months after the presidential election, a significant portion of American citizens appearsto believe that the results of the election were fraudulent; their doubts and fears must be dispelled.How can this be done?For openers, it is imperative that we realize that perpetuating our democratic republicshould be ouroverwhelming concern, so we must be civil to each other to accomplish this goal.

In these times of serious division in which friends have become seeming enemies and even relatives have become uncomfortable with each other, I believe the words of Lincoln would be helpful.He used them to try to reconcile north and south, and we can take them to heart in thoughtfully applying them tothose associates with whom we may differ:We are not enemies, but friends.We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not beak our bonds of affection.This spirit will not only benefit our personal relationships, it will be vital to restore the national solidarity.

Ed Jones is a member of the Thousand Oaks City Council.

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Guest column: Look to Lincoln for inspiration in divisive times - VC Star