Abraham Lincoln

We would like to think all of our presidents of the United States were truly great men and to be sure, just handling the awesome responsibility of the presidency takes a special kind of individual.  One of the unique and great things about the system of government in America is the concept of citizen leadership.  This is the idea of an ordinary citizen rising up and becoming president for a while and then returning to private life.

But of the handful of men who have held that office, a few have stood out for their great achievements and leadership in a time that changed the country for ever.  And one of these truly great presidents was Abraham Lincoln.  Probably more than any other president, Lincoln had to handle an internal civil war that was far more than shouting and name calling.  This was a dispute that could have torn the country in half and starting a rupturing that could have resulted in dozens of small weak independent states instead of the powerful nation we know as America today.

It was Lincoln’s leadership, his commitment to values and his strong moral fiber that made it possible for America to find its way through that war and then to begin the healing process that would eventually lead the nation back to unity once again.  Lincoln’s term of service from 1860 until his death was one of considerable challenge.  If he only had the problem of dealing with the attempt by the south to succeed from the union and his ability to keep those states as part of the American national territory, he would be lauded as a great American indeed.

One of the little known leadership styles that Lincoln used to his advantage in the organization of his presidency was his appointment of talented national figures from opposing political parties to be part of his cabinet.  Lincoln felt that he needed to have close advisors from the opposing viewpoint to keep from having his presidency become insulated from the American people and one sided.  By gathering members of the “loyal opposition” into his trusted inner circle, Lincoln was always aware of both sides of every issue which made him a stronger leader.

But that is not even his greatest accomplishment or the one that we remember him for the most.  His bold and unchanging opposition to slavery is without any doubt his greatest contribution to the history of America and indeed to world history as well.  When he was willing to put everything on the line to stop this barbaric social sin, Lincoln made a stand, against the popular opinion of the time in many cases that he would be the figure to bring slavery to an end.

It was not a stand that came without cost.  The civil war was one of the bloodiest and costliest in the nation’s history if for no other reason than all casualties; on both sides were casualties of America.  It would take many decades for the ravages of that horrible war to be repaired.  The schism between north and south continued for decades and is still a part of our national personality in this country.

But the end result was what Lincoln wanted to be his legacy.  By issuing the Emancipation Proclamation to make the end of slavery permanent, Lincoln followed that up with the passing of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments which made permanent the freedoms that were hard fought and won in the Civil War.

The freedom that was won for so many black Americans in that war permanently enshrined the memory of Abraham Lincoln as one of our greatest presidents in the hearts and minds of all Americans.  Small wonder the monument honoring him on Washington’s national mall is one of the most revered spots in the nation and one that thousands flock to each year to give respect for this great president that made liberty and freedom a reality for all Americans, not just a few.  And his face on Mount Rushmore is well deserved so the very mountain itself shouts out, this is one of the greatest leaders in the history of this great country.

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Guardian Angels

There are many things in our lives that we get through, but you may not be alone. You may have a guardian angel by your side or even carrying you when you can’t stand on your own. It can bring a smile to your face to believe that a guardian angel is looking out for you and your loved ones. There is an amazing power found in such spiritual beliefs. This can help you to get through rough times too such as now with so many men and women fighting for our country in Iraq.
Throughout history there have been stories and various types of artwork that show guardian angels in action. These stories and these pictures give us the impression that that we have an invisible support system we didn’t know about. For many people, it gives them even more faith in God and what he can offer to a person.
The exact belief a person has in regards to guardian angels often depends on the type of religion they follow. It also depends on how deep their faith is. Some people don’t believe in them until a traumatic experience has taken place. For example when a baby is born prematurely and isn’t expected to live. The fact that they do so without any complications or defects is a miracle. It could be that a guardian angel was watching over them.
There are plenty of movies out there that show guardian angels in place. The most popular of them all is It’s a Wonderful Life. This show was introduced in 1946 and it still continues to be a favorite around the holidays. It shows that a person can be helped back to their salvation with the help of a guardian angel.
You can let someone know you want to have them watched over by giving them a guardian angel pin. They can wear it on their clothing or put it on a sun visor in the car. There are guardian angel key chains that a person can carry with them as well. It definitely makes us feel good to know other people are thinking about us. It may be that many of the guardian angels out there are really other people we are exposed to.

Death Angels

Death Angels

Angels are often portrayed as being something wonderful and beautiful. However, the images of death angels are anything but that. They are often a symbol of darkness and blackness there to take a life even if it isn’t ready to let go yet. The pictures of the death angels are often very dark and scary. They may be of a skeleton or some other dark creature that you know instantly doesn’t come for something good.
The term grim reaper is very often associated with death angels. Many people began looking more into this after the movie Meet Joe Black was released starring Brad Pitt. The beliefs that society have about death angels are very different from one culture to the next. Some view it is another part of the process of life, a necessary transition. Others view it as something to be feared.
This fear is believed to be the result of humans knowing that death is inevitable. It doesn’t matter how successful or poor you are. Everyone will suffer that same fate at some time. The fear is also the result of so many people losing someone they love. They certainly aren’t ready for it to happen. They may feel that they have been cheated of the time with that person due to the death angels.
For some people though, death angels can be something comforting. For example a person that has been suffering due to an illness is finally at peace. The death angels are believed to come and take the spirit of that person to heaven with them. It can be hard to let that person go but at the same time it is believed to be exactly what they need to rest peacefully. This is often a type of understanding of death that comes with being older and wiser.
There are plenty of references to the death angels in our society though. For example there are movies, art, books, and even video games that portray it. Generally it is associated with something evil. In the movie Ghost with Patrick Swayze the death angels are those that come for the bad people that die. They are dark black images that take the person off screaming in horror.

Angels in Art

There are many different types of images that have been portrayed in art work since the beginning of time. One of them that continues to capture our attention though is the angel. You will find them in so many forms of art including paintings and sculptures. It is often from such art that we get the visual image of what an angel looks like. There are many variations though which you will quickly learn if you take the time to explore various types of art with angels.
What you will also discover is that the look of the angels changes from various time periods. It also shifts from one culture to the next depending on what their beliefs are. One thing is for certain though; angels seem to be a constant image that artists are fascinated with. They want to be able to explore this area of spirituality on their own.
You will find many terrific drawings and paintings of angels around the world. Many of them are in top museums and even in art galleries. If you aren’t able to travel to see them you can easily access the pictures online. There are sculptures as well that have been erected at various locations. These types of art work are very well received by those that believe in angels.
You will find that many of the different works of art with angels in them portray them as males. This is evident from the many different types of warrior protection that they have. In others, you aren’t really able to determine if the angels in the art are male or female. This is a type of art that leads you to focus on other elements of the work instead of stereotypical images of gender.
If you enjoy the images of angels, buying some of this type of art to hang up in your home is a good idea. It is timeless so it will never be out of style. You can also find comfort in looking at angle art each day. It can make you feel more spiritual and more appreciative of the good things in your life. There are so many great ones to choose from that you may find it hard to decide on what to purchase.

Angels & Demons

Angels & demons are on opposite sides of the spectrum and often used to portray the choices people have in life. Both represent the powers of good and evil on our world and ways to balance them out. Angels are said to be part of God and heaven while demons are said to be part of Satan and hell. Both are means in which God and Satan help to get their choices for mankind out there.
The concept of angels and demons as has to do with the personal struggles each of us has. It has been said that who you are isn’t what other people see. Rather it is who you are when no one is watching you. Do you make ethical choices that serve the best interest of the most people or are you only focused on your personal gain from it? You may have to battle with your conscious before you will know if the angel or the demon wins that particular round.
Some people have inner demons too that are consuming and destroying them. They may have lead to self destructive behaviors such as using drugs or alcohol. Yet there may be angels out there that come along to save them from such demons. It can be a slow process to recover from but it can be done. Many people will look back on such times and realize that angels were certainly watching over them or they would have died from their behaviors.
The reminder that there is good and bad in the world that we will all experience can be found in angels and demons. For example there are really horrible events that have taken place. Acts of violence that have no explanation but they are definitely evil in nature. Yet there are plenty of angels that come together to help do all they can to make the situation better. They work hard to help restore the faith people have as well after such an event has taken place.
You will find a great deal of artwork out there that shows angels and demons battling each other. These symbols are a reminder of the choice you can make too as to how you are going to react to a given situation. There are temptations all around us but it comes down to how we want to behavior that will decide if we are among the angles or the demons.

Angels

Angels are an icon that often goes hand and hand with heaven and the ideals of God. Many people believe those that die and lived as a good person will find their way to heaven to become an angel. They are a symbol of goodness and often portrayed with white wings and golden halos. There are plenty of types of artwork out there that depict angels. They can be found in books, murals, and sculptures all around the world.
Angels are among the most collected items too. They can be porcelain trinkets that you place on shelves. Some people collect angle water globes or angel pictures. There are so many different styles and designs that you can have a very large collection of them without any duplication. The cost of angel collectibles depends on the set it belongs to and what it is made from.
Not all angels have to be something you can physically see though. Many people have fascinating stories to tell about angels helping them. They may have been in a serious accident but walked away. They will later tell of winged angels that helped them escape. These types of angels are often classified as guardian angels and many people find comfort in the thought that they may be watching over them.
Some people believe angels walk among us here on Earth too. These are people that take the time to help those in need. They don’t do it for recognition but due to their true desire to help others out. Many of us can think of someone that has gone out of their way to help us. They may be your angel that has helped you to stay on the right path to have a good life.
In a world that has plenty of good and plenty of evil to go around, the angel is a symbol of what can fight the evil demons. Many cartoons and even books use the concept of an angel and a devil sitting on a person’s shoulders. They have to decide which one they are going to listen to.
You will often find people with angels in the windows of their cars. They are symbols for sporting teams and for organizations that work to help others. The images of angels both in the spirit and in art are of good. They are thought to be a direct link for us sent from heaven. While there is no proof of angels existing, it is something you will have to decide for yourself to believe in or not.