His mother died when he was young.
He failed in business.
Ran for state legislature and lost.
Lost his job and wanted to go to law school, but he couldn’t get in.
He borrowed money to begin a business, by the end of the year he was bankrupt.
He spent the next 17 years completely repaying that debt.
Ran for state legislature and won.
He suffered from melancholy despair.
He was engaged to be married to the love of his life, but she died.
He had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.
Ran for speaker of the state legislature and lost.
Tried to become an elector, but was defeated.
Ran for Congress and lost.
Ran for Congress again, and won. He went to Washington and did a great job.
Ran for reelection and lost.
Tried to become land officer in his home state and was rejected.
Ran for Senate of the United States and lost.
Sought the vice-presidential nomination and got less than 100 votes.
Four years later he was elected president of the United States.
Abraham Lincoln was born February 12,1809 and became the 16th president of the United States. He knew failure far more than he ever knew success, yet he is not remembered for his failures. Lincoln is a respected figure in American history and known as an outstanding political leader and patriot. The process that he went through and the opposition he had to overcome, made him the person that America needed during what was probably the most difficult point in the history of our nation.
Despite his many failures and disappointments, he became immortalized. I believe Lincoln himself would be astonished at the impact his life has had throughout history.
Today, this country is facing difficult times. Billions of tax dollars leave our homeland in support of other countries, while millions of Americans are homeless and suffering. The soldiers who pledge their lives to protect and defend the people of our country, are being sent to fight wars in foreign lands. Our national defense is at an all time low and our current president wants to cut back even farther. Our boarders are weak, we are in debt trillions of dollars to China, and our economy is failing - with no relief in sight!
The 2012 elections are approaching. Please use wisdom to vote for the candidates that will best represent the American people. We deserve a government that acts responsibly and in the best interest of the people.
Lincoln’s immortal words echo through the ages, almost as if he could see the fate of our lives today. “Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable, a most sacred right, a right, which we hope and believe is to liberate the world.” Abraham Lincoln
“I believe that government becomes an enemy to the people, when it stops working for the best interest of its people.” Happy birthday today, Abraham! By Linda Sumner Urza, One fine day.
