Blog Two

The Gettysburg Address was a monumental speech given by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 (Barney). When he gave it, the audience seemed to be uninterested and Lincoln felt as if it was a failed speech. It was only after that people realized that this speech was one of the most compelling speeches (Barney).

Lincoln strongly believed in the philosophy of common sense (Kempf). Common sense is thinking constantly, consistently, logically, and should make life better in more ways than one (Kempf). I think that common sense is very important and I agree with his philosophy that everyone should have common sense.

Lincoln writes in "The Gettysburg Address" in a way that he eases in with common sense. He talks about things that you should be able to figure out yourself. For example, he wrote "We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this" (Lincoln). He then goes in to a deeper part of his speech starting with "but, in a larger sense..." (Lincoln).

Thoreau believed in common sense too. He believed in personal and spiritual growth (Barney). He did not agree that society should be focused on money and on the economic side of things (Barney). I think that they are alike that you have to have common sense to survive, but I think that Thoreau would wants a more simplier world where Lincoln wants a better world where people have common sense and get along. Thoreau is more anti things while Lincoln just wants to fix them.

In "The Gettysburg Address," Abraham Lincoln seems to talk about what we did in the past, what we have because of that, and what we have to do to make life better. In just three short paragraphs, he moves a nation.

Thoreau, Emerson, and Lincoln all wanted freedom> Thoreau and Emerson wanted freedom individually while Lincoln wanted freedom as a country. Lincoln looked at things as a group while Thoreau could sometimes be more personal with his philosophies.

Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock, eds. "Gettysburg Address."Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Age of Romanticism and Realism, 1816–1895, vol. 2, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Lincoln, Abraham. "The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln." NetINS Showcase. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

Kempf, Edward. "Abraham Lincoln's Philosophy of Common Sense." Abraham Lincoln - Daguerreotype of Young Abraham Lincoln. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.