Lincoln is a fantastic movie. I could mention all sorts of things: A portrait of leadership that we desperately need in our current times, a man waging a battle for the long-term soul of our nation, a battle for which he ultimately loses his life. I could tell you that Daniel Day-Lewis gives a performance of a lifetime, which, given his performance in My Left Foot, is perhaps the highest praise I could give. I could also tell you how timely this movie is as we all currently live in a nation divided.
Instead, I want to describe a minor scene near the beginning of the movie.
The Scene’s Backdrop:
Lincoln has just been re-elected for a second term. He is a very popular President, working to guide our nation through a bloody, slaughter of a war. He announces to his cabinet that he wants the 13th Amendment passed – a Constitutional amendment to end slavery. They tell him he cannot win this vote in the House of Representatives and that his failed efforts will tarnish not only his entire second term but also all that he has accomplished. But Lincoln knows that the Civil War is coming to an end and that, if the War ends before the 13th Amendment is passed, it will never pass and generations to come will be saddled with the stain of slavery. He decides to pitch the battle for the soul of our nation.
The Scene that rocked my heart:
Lincoln enters a room where his approximately 10 year-old son has fallen asleep on the floor in front of the fireplace. His son is lying next to map of the US with his miniature army men on it, but he is also holding some very moving photographs of slave children. An aging Lincoln struggles to the floor and lies next to his son. He kisses his son’s face awake and then turns to his stomach to let his son climb on his back. Lincoln’s aging body struggles to his feet and carries his son on his back toward bed.
It is a simple scene of beautiful metaphorical writing. Lincoln chooses to take his son – our young country – on his back and lead him to a different future….the struggle of his aging but deliberate efforts foreshadow the difficulty of the task ahead.
I know that reducing our deficit is our most pressing short-term issue. But how we solve this issue, how we balance economic/business considerations with larger issues of fairness, equality, sustainable energy and environmental issues will define the soul of our nation in the coming century. We must take our children on our back and truthfully and authentically confront not just our pressing short-term issues but also the world and the ideals that we leave behind.
My twelve-year-old son Paul went to this movie with my mother and me. He only understood bits and pieces of what we saw. But I did. I understood. He is not ready, but I am. I will stagger down to the floor, let him climb on my back and dream for a bit longer. I must set to work and guide him to the next room. I owe him that. We owe our children that.