Throwback to a Poet and a Politician

As I discovered yesterday, January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and back in 1863, on New Year's Day, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring all slaves free. 


What a way to start the year President Lincoln. Thank you for publicly declaring slaves free and nationally setting the example of respect to all human beings regardless of status or color. Thank you for boldly proclaiming the statement  “That on the 1st day of January, A.D. 1863, 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"

Read more: The Emancipation Proclamation | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0194062.html#ixzz2pGIBymkL

In other news, in 1845, James Russell Lowell wrote one of my ultimate favorite poems and one that would make humanity question the decision between "what is easy and what is right" (to quote the most famous Dumbledore). 

Please remember folks, tis prosperous to be just. To side with truth is noble, though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong. Please remember the millions of young children who are suffering and crying out to be rescued. Please remember their plight and try to think about them daily as we struggle to 
accomplish the tasks we deem so important.

Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,

In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;

Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,

And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light.

Then to side with truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust,

Ere her cause bring fame and profit, and ’tis prosperous to be just;

Then it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside,

Till the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied.

By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,

Toiling up new Calv’ries ever with the cross that turns not back;

New occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth,

They must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of truth.

Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong;

Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong;

Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,

Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.