What's up with Lincoln?

Visiting the Lincoln Memorial invoked conflicting feelings. On the one hand it's just another pompous Greek temple in the city of DC. On the other Lincoln himself bears powerful nationalistic symbolism which is kind of scary bearing in mind the nations violent history. Then again we share the site with hundreds of people smiling and photographing each other everywhere, thus making it a potential symbol of the global trends of tourism. Reading it's history it is supposed to be a symbol that assembles people.

The Smithsonian museum of American History exhibits the historic process from slavery to liberation of African Americans. They tell heartbreaking stories from centuries ago, and, devastatingly, from our recent past. I found myself tearing up about the tragic stories. As late as in 1963 Dr King and more than 200.000 other protesters filled the memorial and the park all the way to the Washington Monument. What it must have felt to walk on those steps, talk to the hordes of peacefully protesting people, talking about changing the world for their children. "I have a dream"he said, because the american dream did not apply to all. The leaders of the civil rights movement conquered the stance of the American dream in the shape of Abraham Lincoln. Powerful symbolism - isn't it?

So - what to feel about it all? Well, it has been cool being where it all happened. And I am glad that the civil rights movement accomplished what they set out to do. And the monument itself? I'm not able to shake off the ambivalence....