Was Abraham Lincoln a hero or criminal? Why?

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 08:01:35 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 8:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 08:21:35 -0500

I would have to go with hero.

Granted he did some things; such as suspending Habeus Corpus, which was unpopular but it was necessary to save the union. Without his leadership I doubt the United States would have survived for very long.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Feb 15 at 2016 8:26 AM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 08:26:05 -0500

I have to vote Hero. He saved America

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 9:04 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 09:04:16 -0500

George Washington helped create our Union. Abraham Lincoln kept it together. So, hero.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Feb 15 at 2016 9:38 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 09:38:14 -0500

This question merits a question: Why ask it?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 15 at 2016 11:14 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 11:14:08 -0500

He'd be thought of more of a Nixon in today's world. However back then he got away with a number of things because he could and given the situation, the ends justify the means aspect was acceptable to him and others. We've had others, including military leaders like Patton and Rickover, who were "ends" types who got away with it then but would have the piranhas chewing them down from the toes up in today's world. People tend to look at Lincoln as a hero because about 95% of what they are exposed to are the positives. Jack Kennedy and MLK Jr. were both adulterers and J Edgar was most likely a pedophile. However we like our heroes so tend to whitewash the warts. It just goes to show our heroes are much more complex and usually have dark sides as well.

Response by SGT Dana Williams made Feb 15 at 2016 10:05 PM

SGT Dana Williams — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 22:05:25 -0500

Abraham Lincoln was the best President this country has ever had ... and will ever have. He was the most astute, the most eloquent, and intelligent ... and generations ahead of his contemporaries. There is simply no comparison with any other.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Feb 17 at 2016 9:40 AM

1LT Aaron Barr — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 09:40:02 -0500

I would go with hero; he held the nation together during its darkest days, laid the groundwork for ending slavery and put the fulfillment of the Declaration of Independence's statement of self-evident truth that we're all created equal as a national priority. He can't be blamed for the fact that in subsequent times we've confused equality of rights for sameness of circumstance or equality of outcome. Many don't like that he suspended habeas corpus but the Constitution specifically permits this in time of rebellion.