The Unitarian belief in man's improvement

A letter to the editor published on January 13, 2003 in the Roanoke Times written by the Reverend Christine Brownlie in response to a letter written by Scott Barrios of Roanoke, published in the Roanoke Times on January 4, 2003. Mr. Barrios's letter is printed below Rev. Brownlie's.

AS ONE of the "Unitarian types" referred to by Scott Barrios in his Jan. 4 letter to the editor, "Shining the light on the real Lincoln," I wish to respond.

While it's true that many Unitarian Universalists, like most Americans, are "weak on history," I doubt this is the reason that we find much to admire in Abraham Lincoln.

Historically speaking, American Unitarianism has always been optimistic about human nature. We believe that men and women can alter their characters and beliefs for the better through a free and responsible search for truth. I would say that Lincoln's changing views on slavery and the inherent dignity of all people is a remarkable example of this process.

I agree with Barrios that the motives for waging war are complex and never as pure as those who beat the drums for war claim them to be. This is a history lesson we should consider very seriously as our current leaders urge us to support their plans for war in Iraq.

Shining the light on the real Lincoln

WE WOULD do well to scrutinize the decision to place a statue of Lincoln in the city of Richmond, In the case of the much celebrated former president, the reality falls far short of the hallowed ideal.

One finds, for example, in his debates with Douglas, such gems as: "I am not, nor have ever been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality."

Such was the mindset of the esteemed Mr. Lincoln, hero to Unitarian types, and others weak on history. If Lincoln's comments stemmed from political expediency rather than personal conviction, then so what? He was, at best, a coward who waged war to prevent the loss of the South as a revenue source.

Scott Barrios, Roanoke
January 4, 2003

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