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Abraham Lincoln, a la Shmoop: Wonder how long he had to pose for the penny.
You’ve probably heard people say that Abraham Lincoln is the greatest President in US history.
Lincoln freed many slaves, saved the Union… and could leap higher than the tallest building.
Actually that last one might have been Clark Kent.
But at least Lincoln had a super-hero style nickname: “Honest Abe.”
And his likeness stares down at us from up high on Mt. Rushmore… as if he were a God
surveying a universe of mere mortals. Lincoln was a great President, sure…
But he was also a human being who hoped, despaired, loved, and bled just like the rest of us.
Sometimes when we study “great” historical figures it’s easy to forget that they were
also just people… with weaknesses and worries like we have right
now. As that Shakespeare fellow once said, “Be
not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness
thrust upon them.” Before Lincoln became President, he suffered
from bouts of extreme depression. When he was suicidal, his friends would actually
lock him in a near-empty room for days so he couldn’t hurt himself.
They didn’t have psychiatric medication or any real treatment for depression in those
days. As a result, Lincoln struggled with mental
illness his entire life. However, despite his lifelong struggles with
mental illness, Lincoln was intelligent, kind, brave… and a great President.
We elected him to lead our country during its most difficult time.
Doesn’t it seem unlikely that somebody with serious mental illness in his or her past
would be elected President nowadays? We research virtually every issue in a politician’s
past… … and it seems like nobody who went through
much adversity makes the cut anymore. Do you think Abraham Lincoln could ever get
elected today? If not, does that mean our system is too hyper-critical
of those who run for public office? That we “analyze to death” small events
in otherwise great lives, blowing up those small events to mean.. more than they should?
What should we be willing to look past and forgive, and what is truly a red flag?
Shmoop amongst yourselves.