NSJ

We headed north to D.C. on Thursday for (Uncle John’s sister) Laura’s Wedding. Huge thanks to Grandma Mart who drove down from CT to babysit the boys while we attend the festivities.

By far my favorite monument in Washington is the Lincoln memorial. While it is often overshadowed by the Gettysburg Address, I think Lincoln’s second inaugural is probably one of the most amazing speeches ever written. It is really only equaled by King’s I have a Dream speech. The memorial has the second inaugural carved into the stone across one wall in an awe inspiring way that always gives me goose bumps. Lincoln rarely used biblical references in his speeches but uses two here as massive explanation points. Even as an atheist, and regardless of your conception of god, the cause to which he applies a just and righteous god is breathtaking. The entire speech is amazing but I have two favorite sections. In speaking about the North and the South, Lincoln says,

Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. 

Then in speaking specifically about the war he continues,

Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether’. [Emphasis mine]

If you have five minutes, I strongly recommend reading the entire speech.

Anyway, we headed over and read Niko the second inaugural. I’m not sure he followed everything, but he did say “NAAA, NAAA, NAAA, NAAA” to the statue, which I’m pretty sure meant “you go, Lincoln.”  It is suppose to be the cherry blossom festival, but any cherry blossom in its right mind would stay inside. Too damn cold to be blossoming.

He was also pretty fascinated with the Vietnam War memorial. Even as a six month old, it is hard to not be impacted by the power of the monument. Little hands, big sacrifices.