A fascinating take on what it takes to transform a martyred, embattled leader into an untouchable myth, standing for far more in death than he ever dared to in life. This was far too short for its own good, and as a result wound up skimming over some deeply interesting material and outright ignoring more. The argument didn't always seem entirely fair, with way too much screen time devoted to stereotypical sons of the confederation, but when on-target it raised some very interesting points about Lincoln's stated record regarding the war, slavery and basic human rights. Made me wonder how much my other opinions have been slanted by selective bookkeeping.
2 Reviews
Abraham Lincoln: Saint Or Sinner?
a_baron25 March 2014
To many, this may sound a silly question, but there are those , especially in the Deep South - for whom it is anything but.
While Lincoln's true views on race are well known if widely ignored, this BBC documentary explores some of the facets of the most beloved of American presidents that most of his admirers would probably wish were not, such as his attitude towards the first masters of the American continent.
The big problem this and every other retrospective has, is placing Lincoln – the man and his times – in the proper historical context. With regard to racial issues, to simply brand him a racial bigot or similar is silly. One would hope – though this is not necessarily the case – that all our ancestors were less enlightened than us. Is it right to condemn Lincoln for his support of the Negro repatriation movement? As blacks were snatched from the African continent and transported to the New World against their will, it seemed natural for the supporters of this movement not only to free them but to send them "home". The American Colonization Society was established when Lincoln was a boy, and led to the founding of Liberia.
While most black Americans may view Lincoln fondly, white Southerners may not, but you can't please all the people all the time. On the whole though, this programme provides a rounded view by canvassing opinions from both sides. With most politicians you either love 'em or hate 'em; the one thing that can be said for certain is that Lincoln is by and large in the former camp.
While Lincoln's true views on race are well known if widely ignored, this BBC documentary explores some of the facets of the most beloved of American presidents that most of his admirers would probably wish were not, such as his attitude towards the first masters of the American continent.
The big problem this and every other retrospective has, is placing Lincoln – the man and his times – in the proper historical context. With regard to racial issues, to simply brand him a racial bigot or similar is silly. One would hope – though this is not necessarily the case – that all our ancestors were less enlightened than us. Is it right to condemn Lincoln for his support of the Negro repatriation movement? As blacks were snatched from the African continent and transported to the New World against their will, it seemed natural for the supporters of this movement not only to free them but to send them "home". The American Colonization Society was established when Lincoln was a boy, and led to the founding of Liberia.
While most black Americans may view Lincoln fondly, white Southerners may not, but you can't please all the people all the time. On the whole though, this programme provides a rounded view by canvassing opinions from both sides. With most politicians you either love 'em or hate 'em; the one thing that can be said for certain is that Lincoln is by and large in the former camp.
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