“87 years ago, the
Founding Fathers created a brand new country here based on the idea that
everyone is equal. Now, we are at war with ourselves, and this war is testing
whether that kind of country can survive.
A battle of this war was fought right here where we are standing. We are here today to dedicate a part of this
battlefield as a cemetery for the soldiers that died here. This is the right
thing to do. There is no way that we can ever bless this ground today more than
the soldiers that died here already have.
We can’t even come close. No one
is going to care or remember the words we say here, but no one can ever forget
what those soldiers did here. It’s up to
the rest of us that are still alive to dedicate ourselves to finishing what
these soldiers have started. It’s up to
us to dedicate ourselves to saving the country, and remind ourselves that
people have died for this cause. We have
to promise that the soldiers here did not die for nothing. We have to promise
that this country, under God, will be free again. We have to promise that a country that is
made up of the people, was created by the people, and made to serve the people
can exist in this world.”
Does the above
paragraph sound familiar? Being a traditionalist,
I would usually not promote something written over a hundred and fifty years
ago to be rewritten in modern language, but sometimes we need to do so to teach
our youth the true meanings behind the writing when it is in phrases that are
no longer used today. I came across this
rewriting of the Gettysburg Address and was impressed with how it got President
Lincoln’s intent across, yet in today’s language.
Have you ever read
the Gettysburg Address for yourself (other than memorizing parts of it for a
program while in grade school)? With
today being the day we celebrate Memorial Day this speech came to mind,
especially the last few sentences. IT IS UP TO US to remember the sacrifices the men and women of our military have
made, whether we agree with the politics that sent them into harm’s way or
not. Right or wrong they obeyed orders
and they sacrificed all.
Today, as you enjoy
your trips to the beach, the lake, the barbecue, and family gatherings, take a
moment to remember the people who gave their all so you could enjoy such
freedoms.
What price Freedom?!
The Gettysburg
Address in its original language:
Where I found the
Gettysburg Address in modern language: https://www.flawlesswalrus.com/2011/02/gettysburg-address-modern-translation/
