[krb]

It sounds like an interesting intellectual excercise to me. Why are people slamming it so much? People on freerepublic.com all the time like to point out that Lincoln didn't really set out to free teh slaves. It sounds like this school is taking that exercise and turning it into a big production.

[basil]

It sounds like an interesting intellectual excercise to me. Why are people slamming it so much? People on freerepublic.com all the time like to point out that Lincoln didn't really set out to free teh slaves. It sounds like this school is taking that exercise and turning it into a big production.

I can't count the number of times that I have heard people from the deep south call Lincoln a racist.

[flixxx]

I agree...part of education is challenging you opinions and seeking truth. I think many students look at Lincoln from only one perspective and this exercise could be very enlightening. Lincoln is one of my favourite Presidents, but his motivations for freeing the Slaves are appropriate for discussion...an 'academic' exercise but isn't that one reason one attends school?

When I was a freshman in college, I went to an Amnesty International rally/meeting...learned a lot, thought about my values and beliefs and chose to never ever return.

[ChildOfThe60s]

It sounds like an interesting intellectual excercise to me.

I think it could be, IF handled properly. Which I'll bet it isn't. What I see lacking in all of this sort of "bashing" is any attempt whatsoever to place these things in the context of the times. One learns little from, or about, history if one studies it through the lens of our times only. And that's how I see these sorts of exercises taking place. That's what makes it bashing.

I could be proven wrong, but I suspect that the outcome of this exercise is pre-ordained.

[pepsionice]

While article was tight and with limited reasoning...it would be an interesting debate if you brought in the southern cause and explained how Lincoln got into the White House in the first place (the Bush method of electoral college voting is nothing compared to the Lincoln method of collecting electoral college votes). We were so close to having President Stephen A. Douglas as the president...had the democratic convention been held in a neutral point of the country...instead of Charleston.

I'd agree to let this debate move forward...and share more facts with the public. So much of 1860 is lost amongst us today and never discussed in public medium.