Obama Was Asked To Recite Lincoln's Original Draft, Which Did Not Contain Phrase "Under God"

[mota bhai 2,675]

President Obama's recitation of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is sparking hysteria from the right-wing media who slammed the president for omitting the phrase "under God." But ironically, in their hurry to attack the president, they omitted the fact that Obama was reading the first draft of the speech -- a draft that did not include "under God" -- at the request of filmmaker Ken Burns.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, filmmaker Ken Burns compiled footage of important national figures -- including Obama and all the living former presidents -- reciting portions of the speech.

...

Burns requested that President Obama read the 'Nicolay Version' of the Address, which was Lincoln's first draft of the Address and does not contain the phrase "under God." The relevant text of the Nicolay version, which Obama recites, reads (emphasis added):

It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/11/19/right-wing-noise-machine-fabricates-gettysburg/196969

[JohnR! 5,495]

God did not exist back then anymore than it does not exists today. As such, made up deities have no place in the affairs of our secular nation.

For all we know, had they added 'under unicorn' would have had the same effect.

[mota bhai 2,675]

God did not exist back then anymore than it does not exists today.

Don't be an azz. No one likes an azz.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Noone should care about this. Of course, people will care if some oxycontin addled a$$hat in a radio studio tells them to.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Don't be an azz. No one likes an azz.

that explains obama's popularity numbers

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

God did not exist back then anymore than it does not exists today. As such, made up deities have no place in the affairs of our secular nation.

For all we know, had they added 'under unicorn' would have had the same effect.

I understand your position am not debating God. I am asking why alter a speech to make it more up to date with ones personnel belief.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

The hysteria people work up in themselves over things like this will never cease to amaze me.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

The hysteria people work up in themselves over things like this will never cease to amaze me.

Who said anyone was in a hysteria

Show me where i said that

You always twist words

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Noone should care about this. Of course, people will care if some oxycontin addled a$$hat in a radio studio tells them to.

You know the exact type of people who will/do care about this. Bunch of crazies.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

You know the exact type of people who will/do care about this. Bunch of crazies.

I really don't care so much except i think it's stupid to alter it

[JohnR! 5,495]

Don't be an azz. No one likes an azz.

Ok.

[Peikko 1,575]

I really don't care so much except i think it's stupid to alter it

Alter what? The original draft that he recited or the version that is used today? As far as I can tell both are valid versions, no one has altered anything.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I understand your position am not debating God. I am asking why alter a speech to make it more up to date with ones personnel belief.

I ask myself the same question. Why did anyone feel the need to add a made up deity to the speech? It is no different than altering the Pledge of Allegiance to include same made up deity... Just to pander one's personal mythology...

[Peikko 1,575]

Don't be an azz. No one likes an azz.

I should report you for posting a banned word.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Who said anyone was in a hysteria

Show me where i said that

You always twist words

Excerpt from the op:

'President Obama's recitation of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is sparking hysteria...'