Awaara - Part 2 or changed my mind

 So, I ended my last essay wondering what I was doing here -- "here" could mean home, country, planet ... . I still am not sure why I am here, but I am glad I am here. Now why am I sure about that? 

I always admired Abraham Lincoln. Who could not? (And he is an Aquarian like me.) Today we visited the Lincoln Museum in Springfield. A chance to get a glimpse of his life and times. I went in expecting to see some old world items and photos and writings. I did not expect to feel anything intense. Was I wrong! It was an emotional experience to go through those rooms. This was some man! The legend. The hero. The martyr. The saint. I felt as if I were walking on hallowed grounds. I was humbled at the great suffering that he went through. The extensive, deeply hurtful, shameful public ridicule, the criticism, the mockery that he and his family was subject to. I had no idea.

The great ambition of this boy who was not born with a silver spoon, who went on to get a good education, became the President of the United States, twice, put his family name among the ones in the top societal roster, single handedly. The strength of character, of purpose, of vision. And the dreams he had, the sublime goals he met, despite people pulling him in opposite directions, despite his own melancholy, the sweeping changes he could bring about, I was moved, to say the least.  My thinking about his wife underwent a transformation too. Not the unstable old lady that I have heard about at all. An educated, intelligent woman who knew her own mind, but who suffered along with her husband.

I have never felt anything like this before, I am sure. Even in the Holy Land, I was not as emotional as I had thought I would be. This person brought about some tangible changes for a better world. He was crucified by words and actions, and in the end, assassinated. He did not die to wash away my original sin, but for the very real, dangerous sins of hatred and bigotry. No religion has sprouted up in his name, nor has that religion plundered the world in its name. He is not God. He was the 16th President of the United States of America. 

And I am glad I live here, in the Land of Lincoln. I am fortunate.