“Make your decision on the merits of the thing, not on the fear of what someone may or may not say.” - Anonymous

 From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst 

October 14 

Domestic reaction to the Emancipation Proclamation seemed as furious as it was remarkably shortsighted. The Republican press in giving the proclamation strong editorial support assured their readers that liberated slaves would not stampede into the North and steal their jobs. Even so, this decision cost theLincoln administration a huge price: by-partisan support for the war disappeared like snow in spring. “It is impudent and insulting to God as to man,” cried one Democrat, “for it declares those equal whom God created unequal.” There was trouble in the army as well with white soldiers cursing liberated slaves with an “unreasoning hatred.” But Lincoln was immovable as stone. He was determined to strike at the rebellion at its very core. He also estimated that making this an overt fight against slavery would doom any hopes the South had of foreign recognition. Finally, he anticipated great advantage not only from depleting the South of slave labor but also in swelling Union ranks with black soldiers [in the end an estimated 186,000 blacks joined theUnion war effort].

“Pain is never permanent.” – St Teresa of Avila

 From “Me Too, 365,” by Arnold Kunst 

13 October  

In early 1841 Abraham Lincoln broke off his engagement with Mary Todd. Although they subsequently did marry, at that particular point his despair was palpable. “I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on the earth.” - Abraham Lincoln

“Not one drop of my self-worth is dependent on your acceptance of me.” – Anonymous

 13 October 

From “The Human Condition: A User’s Manual” by Arnold Kunst 

When the loser’s feeling sorry for himself, locked in all the crud, he lashes out at someone else. It’s always easy, but it never works. When the winner’s feeling sorry for himself, locked in all the crud, he offers help to someone else. It’s always hard, but it never fails.

“A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.” - Max Lucado

 From“Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst 

October 13

“Both [the North and the South] read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any man should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully.” - Abraham Lincoln

The winner constantly clarifies his dreams and mobilizes his forces toward their realization.

 From “Me Too, 365,” by Arnold Kunst 

12 October  

“I want kids to know: don’t wait for somebody to come along and tell you you’re special. Because that may never happen.” – Michelle Obama

“The end of Democracy will not be televised.” - Anonymous

From “The Human Condition: A User’s Manual,” by Arnold Kunst 

12 October 

Margaret Meade famously said, "never doubt that a single person protesting can make all the difference."  At one point the 1960’s the famous baby doctor Benjamin Spock went to the Johnson White House to hear how we were winning the war in Vietnam, and on the way in passed two or three women protesting that same war in the snow outside the White House. It was relatively early in the war when protesting was anything but fashionable. It’s arguable that those women felt utterly alone, defeated.  But somehow they got through to Spock who ended up being one of the first major figures in this country to protest that war. Please, don’t assume your efforts can’t/won’t make any the difference. In fact, that kind of defeatist attitude just may be a kind of blasphemy.

“Learn to move from strength to strength, relaxed like an experiencedquarterback in the pocket as the play unfolds smoothly according to plan.” -Arnold Kunst

 From“Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst 

October 12

“The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle field and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” - Abraham Lincoln, First InauguralAddress, [conclusion] March 4, 1861