2 weeks Ago
Today’s leaders ought to ask themselves: What would President Abraham Lincoln do? That’s the 16th president at the Springfield museum that bears his name. “With malice toward none, with charity for all” — Abraham Lincoln , Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865 Earlier this Election Year, the editor of The News-Gazette offered the Braver Angels Alliance of East Central Illinois the opportunity to write a column in the Tuesday Town Hall section of the paper on a bi-weekly basis. We titled our series “Braver Conversations.
” From March 26, starting with “Finding Common Ground in Uncommon Times,” until today's column "With Malice Toward None," Braver Angels members have written 17 columns. All columns can be found here . The feedback the Alliance has received from the local community on the Braver Conversations series has been overwhelmingly positive.
Encouraging, respectful conversations between people with different political views are happening, yet there is still much work to do. This Election Day column is intentionally short. Accompanying it is the “With Malice Toward None” pledge first introduced by Braver Angels in 2020.
Local Braver Angels Alliance members have signed it (below) along with many community members who are committed to bridging the partisan divide. These individuals are our neighbors living in and around Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, Mahomet, Rantoul, St. Joseph and Monticello.
We urge readers to join us in this pledge, including leaders of political parties and those running for and those already elected to office. We believe the American Experiment can survive and thrive for every American who contributes to the effort. The Abraham Lincoln statue in front of Springfield's Historical Union Station.
Family relationships can be casualties of today’s divisive politics. Holiday gatherings can be especially challenging. Braver Angels of Illinois is offering a free Family and Politics Zoom workshop on Nov.
17 from 4-7 p.m., timed before your family gathers at Thanksgiving.
If you want to preserve your important family bonds while still being true to your own values and political beliefs, we encourage you to attend. Registration and more information can be found in the "Find an event" section can be found here, on the Braver Angels website ..
