Nice discussion on Lincoln and Obama on

[malaise]

Up with Chris Hayes

[JaneyVee]

1. The similarities are striking. Both took control of a divided Nation.

[MADem]

2. I actually went to the movies yesterday!

This is a rare thing for me, but it was a family outing. We went to see LINCOLN and I can heartily recommend it...it was a long movie, but the time flew by and it drew one in--I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. The theatre was packed to the rafters, too. If Daniel Day Lewis doesn't get an Oscar for that part, there's no justice in the world. Sally Field was pitch perfect as well.

[BlueIndyBlue]

3. I saw it yesterday also

The time flew by and I didn't notice how long it was until I saw the clock outside in my car. As an African-Am it was a bit disconcerting to be transported back to a time when people discussed "me" as if I was property (which they were). I had read that Lincoln wasn't freeing the slaves as an altruistic act but more of a practical thing to get the South to capitulate and to prevent war from having to happen again in the future. I think some of me wants to believe that he was a strongly for the equality of all "men" (I cringed at some things being a woman also) as Thaddeus Stevens. I know that is too simplistic for the time that they lived in.

Also the movie for me was interesting in listening to how the "republicans" and the "democrats" were termed at the time and their differing ideologies. The "democrats" of Lincoln's time would lose their lunch at the thought of what their party has become today. The most ironic thing being the standard bearer and POTUS is of African descent. The very thing they feared happening in the future! I wonder what the movies of 100 years forward will say about our times.