Column: Penny's likeness not as shiny
Bob Bajek/Columnist
Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: Opinions
The penny is fascinating to me. Many Americans feel it is worthless because it is worth one cent. It cannot buy anything. The penny though contains the image of one of the most celebrated presidents in the nation's history: Abraham Lincoln. Staring into two copper and zinc coins on my desk, one penny is shiny and the other is darker from rust. I begin to think about how Lincoln was painted by historians.
First, let's delve into the shiny face of Lincoln.
The shiny one has Lincoln-who just turned 200-looking composed and confident in a portrait pose, almost like a saint. His "sainthood" was achieved April 14, 1865, when John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the head in Ford's Theatre during a performance of "Our American Cousin."
The United States Mint put the 16th president's face on the penny in 1909 for his 100th birthday, probably representing his humble honesty. After all, he liberated the slaves and fought to preserve the Union.
A Chicago Tribune poll in 1982 reflected this notion. Forty-nine historians and political scientists voted Lincoln the greatest president for his leadership qualities, accomplishments and crisis management, political skills, appointments, and character/integrity. George Washington and Franklin D. Roosevelt fell short to Honest Abe.
The rusted penny with Lincoln's face is consumed with darkness. This darkness is often ignored by historians with a biased view of denying American racism in mind.
A learned and respected black historian named Lerone Bennett Jr. wrote a critical book entitled "Forced Into Glory: Abraham Lincoln's White Dream" trying to expose Lincoln's flaws that he claims white historians overlook.
Bennett argues Lincoln was a bigot. Primary historical documents would support this proposition. Lincoln's confidants said he would say the N-word frequently in conversations and occasionally in speeches.
The historian said in 1858, Lincoln gave a speech in Chicago affirming the equality of man, and then gave another address the same year in southern Illinois in which he stated that he opposed "bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the black and white races."
Another point Bennett makes is the Emancipation Proclamation was a sham. If the document is read closely, it shows slaves in the South were to be set free. However, this does not make sense because this legislation did not affect the Confederate States who were outside Lincoln's jurisdiction and allowed slavery in Union states, like Missouri, to continue. Lincoln also stated in an address to Congress in December 1862 to deport African Americans back to Liberia in order to gain a white America.
He also suspended Constitutional rights by removing habeas corpus and plunging the nation into war without Congress approving it. Does this unconstitutionality sound familiar? Sounds like George W. Bush, doesn't it?
Many would agree Bush was a bad president. If people would be objective historically, Honest Abe's legacy ranks low with our former president.
Bob Bajek is a junior journalism major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
First, let's delve into the shiny face of Lincoln.
The shiny one has Lincoln-who just turned 200-looking composed and confident in a portrait pose, almost like a saint. His "sainthood" was achieved April 14, 1865, when John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the head in Ford's Theatre during a performance of "Our American Cousin."
The United States Mint put the 16th president's face on the penny in 1909 for his 100th birthday, probably representing his humble honesty. After all, he liberated the slaves and fought to preserve the Union.
A Chicago Tribune poll in 1982 reflected this notion. Forty-nine historians and political scientists voted Lincoln the greatest president for his leadership qualities, accomplishments and crisis management, political skills, appointments, and character/integrity. George Washington and Franklin D. Roosevelt fell short to Honest Abe.
The rusted penny with Lincoln's face is consumed with darkness. This darkness is often ignored by historians with a biased view of denying American racism in mind.
A learned and respected black historian named Lerone Bennett Jr. wrote a critical book entitled "Forced Into Glory: Abraham Lincoln's White Dream" trying to expose Lincoln's flaws that he claims white historians overlook.
Bennett argues Lincoln was a bigot. Primary historical documents would support this proposition. Lincoln's confidants said he would say the N-word frequently in conversations and occasionally in speeches.
The historian said in 1858, Lincoln gave a speech in Chicago affirming the equality of man, and then gave another address the same year in southern Illinois in which he stated that he opposed "bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the black and white races."
Another point Bennett makes is the Emancipation Proclamation was a sham. If the document is read closely, it shows slaves in the South were to be set free. However, this does not make sense because this legislation did not affect the Confederate States who were outside Lincoln's jurisdiction and allowed slavery in Union states, like Missouri, to continue. Lincoln also stated in an address to Congress in December 1862 to deport African Americans back to Liberia in order to gain a white America.
He also suspended Constitutional rights by removing habeas corpus and plunging the nation into war without Congress approving it. Does this unconstitutionality sound familiar? Sounds like George W. Bush, doesn't it?
Many would agree Bush was a bad president. If people would be objective historically, Honest Abe's legacy ranks low with our former president.
Bob Bajek is a junior journalism major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jon Coit
posted 2/17/09 @ 9:20 AM CST
The habeas criticisms are apples to oranges comparisons. Lincoln did suspend hc along rail/telegraph corridors in Maryland in 1861. But there was no network of extraterritorial prisons which operated for 7 years, as we currently maintain. (Continued…)
J
posted 2/18/09 @ 11:55 PM CST
"A learned and respected black historian named Lerone Bennett Jr. wrote a critical book entitled "Forced Into Glory: Abraham Lincoln's White Dream" trying to expose Lincoln's flaws that he claims white historians overlook. (Continued…)
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