Lincoln gave the slaves the right of self-defense. It SEEMS this was to back up a major change in the war that according to historian Richard Slotkin, was originally to preserve the union, but now–perhaps largely due to the “narcissistic” and insurrectionist demands of Lincoln’s pro-slavery general, West Point engineer, George McClellan, was to change the nature of the South and put men against the pro-slavery South.
McClellan had threatened the dissolving of the army and demanded in a letter that nothing radical be done to slavery.
Lincoln declared the emancipation in defiance of his intrigue-making military leader, who had thought of leading a dictatorship.
Declaring the freedom of the slaves is significant, because at the beginning of the war, the decisive end of slavery was not actually a key goal of the North, though Lincoln was morally opposed to it. In fact, in his efforts to lessen the conflict and keep the union together, Lincoln promised the South that it could keep slaves (though he envisioned ending slavery later). Check NPR for the interview I learned this in by looking up the author and his new book, ‘The Long Road to Antietem’.
Tell a Friend Who Could Learn with Carl!
Published by
Carl Atteniese / 亜天二恵世万慈道
Thank you for reading. I hope this finds you exceedingly well.
I was born in Brooklyn, in the middle of the NASA Gemini space Program era--which was on course for the Apollo program, aiming to land men on the moon. I watched Neil Armstrong make humanity's first step on the lunar surface. The space program left a lasting effect on me and inspired life-long interest and passion in me.
I was born a little more than 2 years after President John Kennedy was assassinated and a few years before Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. It was a time of tumult, but better manners, a gentler approach to one another (despite the prejudice being worked on by progressives-) little political correctness, no cancel culture and thicker skin & more opportunity for laughs, a time of fantastic television, austere and fact-based news delivered with brevity and sobriety and much superlatively stylish design. It was the beginning of Star Trek, Star Wars, and a few years on, personal computers, digital watches, hand-held electronic games and movies were still in theaters--not on our TVs--unless they were a little old. People paid more attention to books, from where trust is built with credibility we intrinsically see, competency earned and reflected and facts & expertise. One reason I am not apt to dabble in irrational conspiracy theories is I made many a trek to the local library, to read about stars, planets and astronauts, and to the local bookstore--no longer there--to find my favorite science fiction novels--to either read, or simply marvel at their covers, by Boris Valejo and Frank Frazetta--inspirations that would fuel my later entry into the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
I grew up in Long Island, worked and was educated there until I discovered New York City, then it was on to Boulder Colorado, The Mojave Desert, South Korea and now Japan. I have visited Mongolia, the Philippines, and England and hope to see the rest of the world--and maybe even beyond it.
I teach English as a Second Language, practice secular Buddhism and pay attention to philosophy, astronomy, spaceflight, aviation and human & species rights. I make art, poems and photography--and real friends, wherever I go--when I can.
Maybe our paths will cross; until then, enjoy my writing and pictures, and send me a note. Maybe we can have a cup of coffee someday, somewhere.
Thank you for reading.
I wish you love, peace, joy and enlightenment--sincerely--because you are sentient, and you suffer, too.
Carl Atteniese
Tokyo
View all posts by Carl Atteniese / 亜天二恵世万慈道
