This afternoon I had the pleasure and privilege of visiting
Lincoln's Cottage, until recently known simply as the "Soldiers' Home." The picturesque military asylum served as a "retreat" for President Lincoln and his family from June to November for three consecutive years, 1862-1864. A half an hour by carriage or horseback from the White House, Lincoln sought in this enclave the peace, quiet and space to reflect on the grave and immensely complex issues facing our Nation at the time.
Though removed from the incessant pressures and constant demands that besieged him in White House, Lincoln continued to receive high level staff, visiting dignitaries and was only a stone's throw from the inescapable and harrowing reminders of the casualties of the war: the first cemetery of the valiant fighters in the Civil War, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home of 1000 veterans and disabled men.
The guided tour, led by a highly engaging and knowledgeable young man, allowed one to step back in time, moving from room to room where the First family had conducted their daily lives. Thanks to the fascinating narration in different forms and voices, one gained insight into key aspects of Lincoln both as the private man and as President.
The Cottage is particularly significant from an historical view point because it was here that Lincoln wrote out the first draft and after a long and challenging process of changes and revisions, finalized the Emancipation Proclamation that contained the following:
That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any state, or designated part of a state, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward and forever free...
It sent shivers down my back as I stood in the actual room where Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation, the document which put an end to the Civil War and which fulfilled the President's humble yet powerful declaration:
If my name ever goes down into history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.
The year 2012 will mark the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Indeed Lincoln made history and will forever be remembered for his courage. Yet, slavery still exists, in fact today the number of people held as slaves, approximately 27,000,000 individuals worldwide, by far surpasses the number of victims at the height of the transatlantic slave trade. This is why we must commit heart and soul to eradicate one of the worst forms of human rights abuse. Each and every person who reads this blog piece can contribute to the fight against human trafficking and modern day slavery. I invite you to visit the following link:
http://www.PolarisProject.org
leading anti-human trafficking organization in the US that operates the sole National Human Trafficking Hotline and Resource Center [1-888-3737-888]. Polaris was co-founded by my son in 2002 and I have had the honor of serving on the founding board since 2004.
In response to Jeni's impassioned and eloquent call to action to protect all children, with particular concern for adoptees [among the vulnerable population at risk of being trafficked], I offer the following two sites and these sobering facts:
1. that the US and Somalia are the only two countries in the world that haven't ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
2. that between 100,000-200,000 US-born minors are at high risk of ending up in commercial sexual exploitation every year. World wide, we are looking at millions of children. Every hour, more innocent lives are put in jeopardy, snuffed out, changed forever by indescribable abuse. The time to act is NOW.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_rights_movement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_ratification_of_the_Convention_on_the_Rights_of_the_Child
Visiting Lincoln's Cottage today raised my commitment to achieve systemic change 100 fold. Please join me.
