The Gettysburg Address- A History Lesson

 Abraham Lincoln is my favorite president. I love The Gettysburg Address.  I know it by heart and I was very excited about the 150th Anniversary of the delivery of that great speech. Instead, I became so angry over all the rumors and lies,the hateful posts and one particular You Tube video that went viral.  I needed to pursue the truth and separate FACT from FAULT-FINDING FICTION. Because that's what I do...........

Yesterday, I spent a few hours studying the history of The Gettysburg Address. Here's what I learned:

There are FIVE manuscript copies of The Gettysburg Address. Two of those manuscripts: THE NICOLAY and THE HAY manuscripts are in our Library of Congress. Contrary to popular belief, Lincoln did not deliver the Gettysburg Address "off the cuff" or without preparation. The NICOLAY manuscript was President Lincoln's first draft of The Gettysburg Address. THE HAY copy is Lincoln's 2nd draft and believed to be the one used at Gettysburg. You might be VERY surprised to learn there is NO mention of God in either one of those copies. The EVERETT, The BANCROFT and The BLISS manuscripts contain the words: "...this nation, under GOD". Those three manuscripts were written by Lincoln for charitable purposes long after Nov. 19, 1863. The BLISS manuscript is the FIFTH and final copy of the address. It was written for Col. Alexander Bliss and delivered by Col. Bliss (not Lincoln) at a fund-raiser for soldiers. The BLISS manuscript is the copy that is most often reprinted today and the one with which we are most familiar.

All that brings me to this: the outrage over President Obama omitting the phrase "UNDER GOD" as he read The Gettysburg Address in this video. In case you missed it:

Here are the facts behind this video that has Conservatives and Christians going crazy right now!  In order to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of The Gettysburg Address, documentary film maker, Ken Burns, started a campaign to encourage everyone across the country to study and learn it.  He enlisted celebrities, officials, former presidents, and Obama in this campaign and asked each to read the different copies of The Gettysburg Address on camera. Those videos will be included in Burns' documentary on The Gettysburg Address set to air on PBS in April, 2014.  President Obama was ASKED to read a particular copy of the Address. Guess which one? THE NICOLAY as written by Abraham Lincoln. His first draft of the famous speech given at Gettysburg!

Still don't get it? I will lay it out for you - nice and simple. Truth: The video of Obama delivering The Gettysburg Address does not include God in it. The rumors being spread of how Obama hates God so much that he chose to OMIT God's name completely from the speech are nothing more than twisted lies by the media, Conservatives and certain Christian groups looking to promote their own agenda and hate campaigns. Those words were never uttered by Lincoln at Gettysburg because they were not written in his Address at the time!

Sorry guys!  You are wrong.  In my opinion, most of you don't give a darn about The Gettysburg Address or whether God was included in it or not.  If you did care, you would not have dishonored the 150th Anniversary of one of the most inspirational speeches ever given by the greatest President in the history of our great country by turning it a free- for- all filled with hatred and false accusations toward our current Commander in Chief. As far as I am concerned, that is simply un-American! 

Read all five versions of The Gettysburg Address here: The Gettysburg Address
Read about Ken Burns and his campaign and documentary here: Ken Burns Gettysburg Address

Seek the truth . Always.  It will set you free!!
And this is my Daily Cyn.......

Hello.Goodbye. Good Morning. Good Night

Begin your day and end it by letting others know how precious they are....................

I have some bad habits. I also have a few good ones. Actually, the good ones are more than just habits; they are rules. One of the rules I abide by is:  Hello. Goodbye. Good Morning. Good Night. 


I am a firm believer in greetings and salutations.  It doesn't take much effort on my part. I just have to open my mouth and speak or quickly type a message. It's so easy to do this. I can do it in person, call someone on the phone, send a text message, shoot a quick e-mail, or by updating my Facebook or Google+ status. There really is no excuse not to do this. Every day. It makes others feel good and it makes me feel good, too.

I believe it is my moral obligation to do this on a daily basis. It could be because of my Southern roots. I happen to think that Southerners are the friendliest and most hospitable people in the country.  Up here in the North (where I currently reside) folks tend to be more cautious and reserved. They'll say hello when I pass them on the street; as long as I say it first. I don't really mind doing that.  Not at all. I've met amazing people and gained life long friends by simply exchanging a greeting.

When I was a little girl, my dad insisted I read the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.  I was about ten years old at the time and it changed my life. I began to view the world differently; even at such a young age. I adopted the attitude that every single person I meet is a potential friend and every potential friend is looking for a friend.  A relationship that begins with a simple Hello. Goodbye. Good Morning. Good Night could last five minutes, for the two hour train ride into the city, or an entire lifetime. It doesn't matter.

This can be irritating to some people because sometimes I will pick out the most outrageous looking person in a crowd and begin a conversation. I usually start with a simple hello.  If that person is receptive, I will continue. "Wow. All those piercing on your face are so cool!  Did it hurt when you had them done?" Despite the fact that my friends are horrified and attempt to pull me away, I stand my ground and wait for a reply. I always get one. And it's always a nice reply. No one has ever told me to "Fuck off" or dragged me into a dark alley and tried to kill me. I think most people are basically good and willing to talk about themselves if they know you will listen. The repercussions can be staggering. I honestly believe you can change a person's life with a simple greeting, a kind gesture, or by listening to them.

Hello. Goodbye. Good Morning. Good Night. I believe in doing this with everyone; especially with the people I love and care about. Each time my son walks in or out the door; we exchange hugs and  kisses. When we wake up or go to sleep; we do the same. It's been this way since he was little. People think it's cute and sweet because he is such a big strapping man now. I look at it this way: We are reminding each other how precious we are.

I don't have a romantic partner in my life right now, but if I did; it would be exactly the same. He would get my Hello. Goodbye. Good Morning. Good Night greetings, hugs and kisses. This is just part of my M.O. Always has been. I am sure, at times, it's aggravating. I don't care. I would want him to know how precious he is to me. Every day. Even if I'm angry, he's still going to get that goodbye kiss. Why? When he walks out that door there is no guarantee that I am going to see him again.

Life is precious. People are precious and there are no guarantees. I want to live my life by letting others know how very precious they are: the girl at coffee shop, the stranger on the street, my child, my parents, my friends, the man in my life. It only takes a second or two of my precious time to do it.

And this is my Daily Cyn..............

Live in the Moment

Live in the Moment. A catchy phrase. Everybody says it. It sounds good; but what does it mean?

Living in the moment is to practice Mindfulness. And, yes, it must be practiced because mindfulness does not happen naturally.  Your mind has a tendency to wander and focus on everything else other than the present moment.

Example: When you listen to a conversation; are you really listening or is your mind wandering and thinking of clever ways to respond?

Hmmm.............

What is mindfulness?

It is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.


Forget about yesterday. It's over. Forget about tomorrow. It's a day away. Don't think about what you need to do an hour from now. Be here. Be now. Be present.

When you eat; eat. When you walk; walk. When you listen; listen. When you kiss; kiss. When you touch; touch.

Each time your mind begins to wander; bring it back to exactly where you are and stay there.  Live and breathe in that moment.

Your experiences will be so much richer and more fulfilling.  Your mind will be clear and sharp.  Your intentions will be pure and selfless.


And this is my Daily Cyn............

Self-Nurturing- Knowing What You Need and Why You Need It........

I am a strong and independent woman and proud of it! Most of the time I have an "I don't need anybody" attitude. I am like the female version of John Wayne; I'll fight against good and evil and ride off into the sunset. Proud and alone.  I can attribute this attitude to a few things:

1.  I managed to pick up the pieces of my ruined life many years ago and completely change it.
2.  I am single and although I would like to find the right guy, I am not constantly out on the prowl looking for a man nor am I weeping over the fact that I not actually in a relationship. I don't need a man. I want one.
3.  Everything I need to know about getting the job done myself, I learned my father.


It's good to be self-reliant and independent but sometimes, it can also be very, very bad. No one ever rushes to assist John Wayne because most people think he's got it covered. Not to mention, he's probably too proud to ask or risk tarnishing his very capable image.

Every once in a blue moon, when things become too much for me to handle, I actually do need someone else to lean on for support. This can be confusing for those who see me as fiercely independent. This past week was one of those times. I had too much handed to me all at once and I felt as if I was going to crumble under the pressure. I didn't really want help; not physical help, anyway.  I knew what I had to do. Yes, I wanted some advice and I got that from a dear friend. What he told me; I already knew. I had to exercise some real tough love. Tough love is easy advice to give to someone else.  I tell other people to do it all the time. It's not so easy when it's your turn to put it into practice.

I did what I had to do and quite honestly, that proverbial shit that's supposed to hit the fan still hasn't happened. Not completely, anyway. I am not sure what is going to happen. All I did is put my foot down and declare certain practices and behaviors unacceptable. And........If you don't like it; get the hell out and I don't give a damn where you go! Those are the most difficult words in the world to say to someone you love. Deep inside, your greatest fear is that they will leave. And then what? Truth be told, I am not a threatening, ultimatum type of person. That's grossly out of character for me. I am usually tolerant and accepting and people know this about me. The fact that I had to take such a strong stand wore me out completely. I was broken, scared, and alone.  For the first time in a very long time, what I needed was a strong man to put his arms around me and reassure me that everything was going to be okay. Even if he wasn't so certain of that fact himself.  Well, hello. I am single. There is no man in my life to hold me. There's no lover or partner who knows me well enough to realize how badly I wanted reassurance and needed to lean  just a little bit for just a little while.  I almost ashamed to admit I wanted to be stroked and coddled and free to cry in some guy's arms for as long as I needed.

My desire and need was so strong that I did not know what to do with myself. Wait. I knew what I could do. I could get myself all dolled up and go down to the local bar, have a few drinks, and take my pick of any guy there. That's a great place to find someone to hold you. They're willing. They'll hold you all night if that's what you want. No strings, no demands, no real intimacy. Several years ago, that's probably what I would've done. Those kinds of actions, however, come with a price; at least for me. A lack of respect for myself and in the long run; feeling even more lonely than I was before. The only way to cure that is to go back out and do it again.  And so begins the cycle of destructive behavior and self-loathing. No thank you. I fought very hard to get where I am now and I don't believe in moving backward. I only believe in moving ahead. Even if that means I have to go alone.

So, I decided to sit down and think about what I wanted and needed. I immediately crossed being held in the arms of a nice, strong man off the list. There was no one around to do that for me and I sure as hell wasn't going out to find a temporary guy. So, what next? Since I couldn't have that; what would be the next best thing? What was I looking for? What did I really need?
Understanding
Love
Peace
Security
Change of Environment
Joy

Yes. Those are things I needed. So how could I get them in a healthy, non-destructive way?

Well, I knew sitting around the house feeling sorry for myself was a bad idea. These four walls served as a reminder of recent events and I knew if I stayed here it would be too tempting to give into the unthinkable. So, I packed my bags and took off for Brooklyn. That's the one place I know where I am loved and accepted for my wild and wacky self. I could spend time with my sister and her husband. Their greatest joy is to spoil me, feed me all my favorite foods, and drag me all over the city. My three year old niece lives with them and she happens to worship the ground I walk on. I would trade my sorrow for a weekend filled with activity, laughter, love and security. Problem solved. Okay, the big problem? Still not completely resolved but what I needed, I found in one weekend, without sacrificing an ounce of self-respect or dignity. Part of my healing was making the decision to not talk about my issues with anyone else the entire time. I completely removed my body, mind and spirit from the situation and kept my focus on other things. As a result, I returned home last night well-rested, well-feed, well-loved, and with enough strength to deal with whatever comes my way. If I feel myself wavering again; back to Brooklyn I will go.

This is self-nurturing. Self nurturing does not mean anesthetizing yourself or going out to find a temporary fix.  More often than not, the results of doing that will make you feel even worse.  Self-nurturing means taking care of yourself in healthy ways and identifying what it is you really need and want. It could involve sitting down and completely deconstructing all of it; like I did. I couldn't have what I wanted at that moment so I had to substitute it with something else. Feeling sorry for myself and dwelling on what I did not have quite possibly could have ended badly. I am not willing to take that chance.

I work with clients and help them to identify their cravings and unhealthy choices. I also assist them in understanding why they make these choices and reach for temporary fixes instead of the real thing. Most often, it all stems from hurt, fear, disappointment, rejection, and lack of understanding and acceptance of oneself.

To be truly successful and healthy in your body, mind, and spirit, you must get to know who you are; including your strengths and your weaknesses. Identify your destructive temporary quick fixes. What are they? Food? Drugs? Alcohol? Sleeping the day away? Even too much exercise can be an unhealthy, temporary fix. Slowly begin to replace those things with good alternatives that will contribute to your health and healing. What do you really want?  A candy bar or a hug? More often than not; it's the hug you really want. Practice a bit of self-nurturing, know what you need, when you need it, and how to get it. And then...... go get it!

And this is my Daily Cyn................

A Place of Peace and Love

My Place of Peace and Love.

Peace can only created only by those who are peaceful and love by those who have loved.
-Deepak Chopra, from his latest book, Spiritual Solutions.




And this is my Daily Cyn...........

Where I need to Be........

Eventually, we all get there.

And this is my Daily Cyn.............

Let It Shine

You are a light; a burning flame. You are here to dispel the darkness and chase away shadows. Your light can separate truth from lies, pleasure from pain, good from bad, compassion from hate. Your light can illuminate the most difficult journey.

When I was little girl, I learned this song in Sunday School:

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine
I am gonna let it shine. 
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. 



Simple? Yes. Silly? Sort of; but this little song has always been my mantra.  I carry it in my heart everywhere I go.

It isn't easy to keep the light burning. The brighter it burns, the greater the desire to quench it.  Others will try to extinguish it for you because your light reveals their darkness. Don't let them. Keep shining.

My name actually means Reflector of Light. Maybe there's a bit of truth to that. I've spent years searching for the true meaning for my life. I had high hopes and visions of grandeur. I was absolutely certain there were big plans for me to really be somebody and to accomplish amazing things. The truth is; there's nothing special about me. The big plan for my life is to just keep burning.  Everything else that happens is simply a result of shining my light.

Let your light shine. Keep it burning.  Don't cover it or hide it. Never ever allow anyone to extinguish it.





 Your light is your gift and your gift is your light.......

And this is my Daily Cyn.......