Ambassador’s Blog: Today we have as our guest blogger Thomas E. Mesa, the Embassy’s Public Affairs Officer.
When I was 8 years old and a young immigrant to America, I
was completely enthralled by Abraham Lincoln.
This tall, lanky man, who was born February 12, 203 years ago in a log
cabin, and, whom we celebrate as part of our President’s Day Holiday, captured my
young imagination. I read every book I
could about him and I am still fascinated today, four decades later.
As I read more and more about our presidents, I can’t put my
finger on what exactly attracted me to Lincoln instead of George Washington or
Theodore Roosevelt or any other president.
Perhaps it was his sad childhood, or his love of reading and thirst for
knowledge, or that he became what we call a “self-made man.” The stories of his honesty, his deep
convictions, and love of humor definitely rang true for me.
My boyhood fascination turned to serious study of this
lawyer from Illinois. The fascination of
Lincoln has not diminished. In fact, the
more I study of the American Civil War, the more I admire him, especially his
ability to heal a deeply wounded nation.
More Americans died in the Civil War than all other wars
combined. After the war, the country
remained politically divided: the South was devastated, deep hatred remained,
and calls for revenge (from both sides) were common. In the midst of this clamor came the voice of
Lincoln, who called for Americans to look deep into their souls and find their
better angels to guide them. He spoke
not of division, separation, and revenge but of bringing all together for the
common good.
Lincoln spoke these immortal words: “With malice toward none
and charity for all, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, bind the
nations’ wounds…. to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting
peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
His rhetoric and deeds were not spiteful; did not foster hatred; it was
not one of painting the other as the enemy.
Hundreds of thousands were killed and entire cities burnt to the ground,
yet here was a leader who refused to cash in on the easy political gains
brought by fanning the flames of revenge and anger. He insisted that his nation follow the path
toward peace, harmony, and forgiveness.
Sometimes when I sit in my office in Sarajevo, reading or
watching the news of the day, I look up at Lincoln’s portrait on my wall and
wonder, who will be Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Lincolns?
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