*Read About Lincoln's Statue on Bascom Hill

Abraham Lincoln: A man for all times

Abraham Lincoln defines the civic ideal of what it means to be an American. But what more is there to be learned about our 16th President? What's left to unearth? What remains relevant about a president born nearly two decades ago?

In his Gettysburg address, Lincoln reminded what "the brave men, living and dead" did on the battlefield and challenged the living to dedicate themselves "to the unfinished work of those men.

How much of that work is still not completed?

Surmounting race and assuring equal rights for all are Lincoln's two major challenges still on the nation's agenda -- although the election of an African-AMerican citizen as our 44th President has established an historic watermark in progress toward those goals. As the embodiment of the highest ideals and values of our nation, Abraham Lincoln can still help us to meet those challenges.

Through education programs, public forums and arts projects, the Bicentennial provides an opportunity to re-examine what it means to be American in the 21st century.  

Two centuries after Lincoln's birth the nation is still in formation. As the United States has grown and expanded, one cost of that growth has been a splintering of many parts of our society. Competing values, interests and beliefs have complicated Lincoln's goal to find unity in our diversity.

The Bicentennial commemoration of his life and legacy will be a bright beacon to compelting our nation's  "unfinished work."

Thoughout 2009, the 200th anniversary of President Lincoln's birth in 1809, America will celebrate its 16th President, his accomplishments and the impact he had while leading the nation in its most challenging era. For more information on the national celebration, go to http://www.lincolnbicentennial.org/

Executive Order No. 245 Relating to the Creation of the Wisconsin Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

 Featured reading:

"Thinking About Lincoln" by James Marten

Read the full text of Marquette University Professor James Marten's article, Thinking About Lincoln: War, Reconciliation, and the "Better Angels of Our Nature,"  in the Winter 2009 edition of Wisconsin People & Ideas, or subscribe online at www.wisconsinacademy.org/magazine