The Coonridge Digest: Abe …embarrassed?

Greetings from the Ridge.
“Born, Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardon County, Kentucky. Education, defective. Profession, lawyer. Have been a captain of volunteers in Black Hawk War. Postmaster at a very small office.”
Thus began Abraham Lincoln’s first biography of himself.
For the next 12 months we (and Abe) will be treated to what is surely the world’s most prolonged birthday celebration as President Lincoln prepares to turn 200 years old. For a man who’s become an icon of simplicity, things are getting a bit… well… complicated. It  makes one wonder what Abe would have thought.
The State of Kentucky is shelling out $22,500 so the members of the state’s bicentennial organization can have their own vanity-Abe license plates. Lincoln paid rent of $4 a week on his first “home” after marrying. That included meals.
Planners of the Abe-fest hope to raise $100 million to light the 16th President’s birthday candles in 2009. Some of the highlights include a nationally televised rededication of the Lincoln Memorial complete with fireworks, music, and a Presidential address. Estimated cost of the evening: $2.5 million.
“I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. My parents were both born in Virginia, of undistinguished families…”
– from Lincoln’s second autobiography.
Other bicentennial events include at least three traveling Lincoln exhibits, town hall meetings on race and racism, and an antique car parade on what used to be the Lincoln Highway.
“My father, at the death of his father, was but six years of age; and he grew up, litterally [sic] without education.” – ibid.
The planners hope to create a sculpture garden in Washington with castings of great Lincoln statues and perhaps a few new ones. No cost estimate yet. Plans are being made to translate the Gettysburg Address into 200 languages.
“Of course when I came of age I did not know much. Still somehow, I could read, write, and cipher to the Rule of Three; but that was all. 
“I have not been to school since. The little advance I now have upon this store of education, I have picked up from time to time under the pressure of necessity.” – ibid.
The birthday activities will be strong on education with an international conference on slavery, Lincoln-themed lesson plans for kindergarten to high school, and Scholastic, Inc. plans to feature Lincoln books in book fairs around the nation in 2009.
“I was raised to farm work, which I continued till I was twenty-two. At twenty-one, I came to Illinois, and passed the first year in Macon County. Then I got to New-Salem (at that time in Sangamon, now in Menard County), where I remained a year as a sort of Clerk in a store.” – ibid.
The commission, headed up by congressmen LaHood and Durbin of Illinois says that it needs to raise $100 million in private donations to make the Abe-fest what it should be. The commission’s operating costs are funded by Congress, but last year amounted to only a paltry $600,000. LaHood and Durbin have both introduced bills to authorize the U.S. Mint to issue commemorative coins that might generate $3 million… or so they hope.
“I went the campaign, was elated, ran for the Legislature the same year (1832) and was beaten – the only time I ever have been beaten by the people.” – ibid.
Needless to say, Abe will have some stiff news competition from our current Presidential campaign, but we can expect to see his name to be lifted up by every candidate running for whatever office. After all, Lincoln’s cool.
“If any personal description of me is thought desirable, it may be said, I am, in height, six feet, four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, weighing on an average one hundred and eighty pounds; dark complexion, with coarse black hair, and grey eyes – no other marks or brands recollected.” – ibid
I’d guess that Mr. Lincoln himself might be a bit embarrassed at all the fuss, but I’d hope he’d appreciate the effort – and I’d hope he could afford to get in the door.
“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.” – from the address at Gettysburg
You ever in Coonridge, the one town in the Midwest not touting a Lincoln speech or sleepover, stop by. We may not answer the door, but you’ll enjoy the trip.