When the Civil War broke out in 1861, shortly after Lincoln's inauguration as America's 16th president, he maintained that the war was about restoring the Union and not about slavery. He avoided issuing an anti-slavery proclamation immediately, despite the urgings of abolitionists and radical Republicans, as well as his personal belief that slavery was morally repugnant. Instead, Lincoln chose to move cautiously until he could gain wide support from the public for such a measure.
In July 1862, Lincoln informed his cabinet that he would issue an emancipation proclamation but that it would exempt the so-called border states, which had slaveholders but remained loyal to the Union. His cabinet persuaded him not to make the announcement until after a Union victory. Lincoln's opportunity came following the Union win at the Battle of Antietam in September 1862. On September 22, the president announced that slaves in areas still in rebellion within 100 days would be free.
On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation, which declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebel states "are, and henceforward shall be free." The proclamation also called for the recruitment and establishment of black military units among the Union forces. An estimated 180,000 African Americans went on to serve in the army, while another 18,000 served in the navy.
You can read the rest of this article at History.com.
If you don't know already, President Lincoln is one of my favorite presidents! He was born in extreme poverty, was self educated, was a successful lawyer, was humble and witty; and was probably one of our greatest presidents in a time of US history where there was great civil unrest.
I am reminded of the courage President Lincoln had to issue this proclamation. We were in the middle of a great civil war, there were many people who were against freeing the slaves and there were political consequences, yet, Lincoln understood this was the RIGHT thing to do and so ordered it.
President Lincoln had courage and stood up to those who opposed him.
Courage is a persistent character trait that shows itself in the martial arts all of the time.
How?
It takes courage to come to class and train at a high level of motivation and intensity. It takes courage to demonstrate your kata or forms in front of other students or in front of a full lobby of family members. It takes courage to get up, when you have fallen down. It takes courage to be able to fail, in order to succeed!
We all face daily obstacles and it takes courage to defeat these challenges.
That's what a Black Belt does!
That's what a Black Belt is!
Do you have what it takes to be a Black Belt?
Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio
Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425
samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com
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