This coming February 12, 2009 is a very special day.
On this day 2 centuries ago, February 12, 1809, it was an exceptional day of human history. 2 great men were born on each side of the Atlantic.
The first man contributed the theory of Natural Selection. He is Charles Darwin, a British scientist and explorer.
His theory becomes known as the theory of evolution providing an unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life in the biological world.
This new understanding of lifes upstaged the prevalent theocratic if not mystical explanation of life that dominated the largest of our human history. The proposition that every life forms are attributed to a certain divine creation, though is no longer mainstream, is still common in certain societies where tolerance and moderation are not the general rule.
The second man is Abraham Lincoln, arguably the most well regarded American President in history.
Among his many firsts, Lincoln was the first President from the Republican Party and the State of Illinois. None really matters.
What count was his deeds and words. Lincoln is a very rare President whose deed is praised and celebrated everywhere and whose speech is memorized and recited again and again by successive leaders of all stripes. He is an unifying figure across the political divides.
Lincoln succeeded in ending the civil war and reunited the country. His term was brief but what he accomplished was really belonging to the ages.
He inspired a nation with renewed purpose and introduced moral vigor into the American constitution.
Don't forget to propose a toast to Darwin and a toast to Lincoln on February 12, 2009 on their bicentenary.
A personal note:
My convertion into atheism at the age of 13 was in large part supported and sustained by Darwinism. It was a rare excitement for a young boy to challenge and contradict the religious orthodoxy. To atheism and by extension Darwinism, I owe my emancipation from religion.
Abraham Lincoln recalibrated my views on public duty and political ideal. This is in large part thank to BHO who tried to mimic AL. No surprise, I came to know Abraham Lincoln much better only late last year after reading the Team of Rivals.
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Well observed. My daughter Ning-ning is becoming a Lincoln buff. She has read more than her fair share of books about Lincoln. Let me share a recent anecdote.
Last weekend, we were planning to spend sometime at the main branch of the NY Public Library when we discovered they were having a whole day of events for children about Lincoln. So off we went to listen to an author (Candice Fleming) who just wrote a book about the Lincolns telling children anecdotes about Abe Lincoln and his relationship with his children.
When the session started, she asked how in the audience knew about Lincoln, and several hands shot up (including Ning, who is shy or modest). So the author asked Ning, "So what do you know about Lincoln?", to wit Ning replied, "A lot." Mew yee and I could only squirm in our seats.
But because of her candour, after the talk the librarian offered to give her an advance copy of the book, duly authographed by the author herself.
Its often not well-appreciated, but Lincoln grew up in great hardship. I came across a good article of Lincoln in TIME recently, on his views of economic policy and how that reflected his upbringing. It makes a sobering read.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1877093_1877109_1877111,00.html
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