Lincoln

Yesterday I watched Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln”. The film mainly dramatized the events leading to the passing of the historic, perhaps even radical 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States- the Emancipation Proclamation. And the extraordinary leadership that Lincoln provided in that point of inflexion of American, if not human history.

The film was an experience in the grimy dealings in politics and in passionately following one’s belief in the face of insurmountable odds. But above all, it was a story about the inherent nobility of the human spirit. A human spirit that has perhaps a visceral and timeless urge towards justice and fairness, and even if a millenia of prejudice and imploding social, historical and economic conditions pulls him away from that kernel of truth buried deep within his spirit, ultimately the truth manages to express itself!

It is but rarely that history blesses us with a man or a woman of such unbelievable character and sublime spirit. 

The overwhelming impact and the all-encompassing influence they have on the course of history is so astoundingly profound, that soon we become inured to the changed reality and it seems almost natural and self-evident. And we soon forget what extra-human effort and character went into making this altered reality happen.  

 That All men are created equal and that “negroes” are men as well, of flesh, blood, and perhaps a soul too, just like the “Whites” or the “yellows” or the “browns”, who would even think of disputing it today? In fact, in all likelihood, it is now almost impossible to understand how little more than a century ago,  the otherwise sensible and intelligent men and women found this plain and simple truth of basic human equality so nigh impossible to grasp and act on?

But if it not were for men like Lincoln, perhaps this self-evident truth that we talk so glibly about today, would have remained shrouded in layers of prejudice and darkness of ignorance! And perhaps we would not even be aware of our himalayan folly!

Sometimes I wonder, is it these amazing, almost impossible personalities who leave their indelible footprint in annals of time, and fundamentally alter the course of history? Or is it Time that props up such extraordinary character in the canvass of life, to fulfill the inevitable demands of destiny? 

Whatever it is, it is to these men, it is to these events, it is to these achievements of the human spirit, which stands out in the otherwise mediocrity, even pettiness of everyday existence, that points out, even if too briefly, to the nobility,to the inner strength and beauty, to the pinnacle of purity- that the human spirit is capable of achieving. And we remain forever indebted to these impossible men and women, for giving us a glimpse of our hidden potentialities. For reassuring us that it is possible to raise ourselves above our surroundings.