Topic: Lincoln S War

The National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance returned to Washington D.C., featuring five hours of prayer and a reading of Abraham Lincoln's 1863 proclamation. The event focused on national sins and the need for spiritual renewal. The hosts reflect on the historical theme of America being "in trouble" and the cyclical nature of national crises.

Howard Zinn's self-identification as a "democratic socialist" is linked to the modern DSA movement. Graber argues that Zinn's portrayal of the Civil War and the civil rights movement as "doing no good" sends a hopeless message to young people, encouraging them to revolt in the streets rather than work within the American system.

John C. Dvorak argues that the modern version of Thanksgiving involving pilgrims and Indians is a "bogus" holiday. He asserts that the holiday was actually established by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to give thanks for the end of the Civil War. He further claims the inclusion of turkey was a marketing scam by the poultry industry to sell large birds.

The true history of Thanksgiving is contrasted against modern mythology, noting that the holiday was formally initiated by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War to honor dead soldiers rather than being a continuous tradition from the 1700s. The narrative of Puritans and Native Americans dining together is described as a later re-engineering of history. The discussion briefly touches on Canadian Thanksgiving, noting its earlier date in October.

In an 1862 letter to editor Horace Greeley, Abraham Lincoln explicitly stated that his primary goal in the Civil War was to save the Union, not to save or destroy slavery. Lincoln wrote that if he could save the Union without freeing any slaves, he would do so, and if he could save it by freeing all of them, he would do that as well. This historical document is cited to challenge the modern consensus that the war was fought exclusively over the issue of slavery.

A circulating image of an inscription at the Lincoln Memorial features an 1864 quote from Abraham Lincoln stating the war was being fought for the Union rather than the sole purpose of abolition. The hosts discuss historical interpretations of the Civil War and the current climate of pulling down statues. They reference Kenneth Stamp's historical work regarding the complex motivations behind the conflict between the states.

The historical causes of the American Civil War are debated, with a focus on the tension between states' rights and federal authority. While slavery was a central element, it is argued that the conflict was also driven by economic and political centralization. The segment references James Buchanan as the first gay president and notes the lack of consensus among historians regarding the war's primary catalyst.

Lincoln Chafee's debate performance is reviewed, specifically his defense of his anti-Iraq War vote while he was still a member of the Republican Party. Chafee described himself as a "block of granite" regarding his judgment, which the hosts find humorous given his low polling numbers. They discuss his transition from Republican to Independent to Democrat and his lackluster stage presence.

The hosts discuss "No Agenda inflation" and whether to raise the minimum donation amount for on-air mentions. A listener also requests that the hosts stop using the term "Civil War," suggesting "Lincoln's War" or "the war between the states" as more historically accurate alternatives.

The modern American Thanksgiving holiday originated from an 1860s proclamation by Abraham Lincoln to thank soldiers during the Civil War. While George Washington issued an earlier proclamation, the "Pilgrim and Indian" narrative was largely a later invention. The hosts note that recent presidential rhetoric has increasingly framed the day as a "war holiday" focused on military sacrifice.

The origins of Thanksgiving are traced back to a 1861 resolution by Abraham Lincoln intended to commemorate Civil War soldiers rather than the traditional story of Pilgrims and Indians. An anecdote is shared regarding acting teacher Eric Morris and a classroom discussion where foreign students questioned if the holiday celebrated a Native American holocaust. The modern narrative of the holiday is described as a 20th-century invention that shifted toward commercialism.

The hosts review questions from the 2010 U.S. citizenship test, criticizing them for being overly simplistic or historically narrow. Questions cover topics such as the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the events of September 11, 2001. Adam Curry uses "slave" imagery to mock the requirement of pledging loyalty to the flag and the government.

The traditional narrative of Thanksgiving involving pilgrims and Native Americans is dismissed as a "mercantile scam." The holiday was officially codified by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War as a day of thanks for the health of soldiers. One host mentions the personal financial strain of an ongoing divorce and the need for increased listener donations to sustain the show's research-heavy format.

The traditional narrative of Thanksgiving involving Pilgrims and Indians is challenged as a historical fabrication. President Abraham Lincoln officially established the holiday in 1863 as a day of thanks for the end of the Civil War, originally set for October 3rd. The modern version of the holiday is described as a commercialized "bogus holiday" that differs significantly from its documented origins.