Two hundred thirty-eight years ago today, a plainspoken pamphlet entitled “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine was a “call-to-arms” for the American Revolution. It made the case for the necessity of declaring independence from Great Britain. A mere six months spanned from the publication’s debut until the colonists declared their independence in the summer of 1776, affirming the adage “the pen is mightier than the sword.” In a nod to this pamphlet I’ve entitled a special President’s Day post: “Lincoln Sense: A penny for Abe’s thoughts.” I pay tribute to our 16th president, largely through his own words (can anyone say it better than he?). Lincoln eloquently and successfully made the case for returning to the founders’ model of self-government grounded in transcendent moral truth, which guided the nation though its most serious existential crisis since the Revolution. And he can do it again, if Americans have the common sense to apply “Lincoln Sense.”
Republican
Personal Note: Amazing Coincidence or Divine Sign at Office Depot Today?
I ran into Office Depot today to get some nice, resume quality paper – something I like to keep on hand . Though I didn’t have a particular brand in mind I wanted it to have a good look and feel, preferably 100% cotton and ivory in color. I found a box that met my requirements, grabbed it, and rushed over to checkout. As the cashier bagged my purchase, the box flipped over and I caught a glimpse of Abraham Lincoln printed on the back of the packaging. I was instantly transfixed but snapped out of it as I felt the cashier’s impatient gaze. I hurriedly paid, while commenting that I was a history buff and couldn’t wait to find out why Lincoln’s picture was on the box!
When I got in my car, I pulled out the paper and feasted my eyes on the following:
Inscription on the box of Southworth paper I purchased today.
The message beside Lincoln’s image reads: “WHAT MESSAGE DOES YOUR DOCUMENT CONVEY? For generations, people have been relying on Southworth papers to provide greater impact to their ideas. In fact, President Lincoln chose Southworth paper to accept Stephen Douglas’s invitation to debate, documenting the seriousness and historic nature of the event. . .”
While I recognize that only those closest to me – those who have shared the 2 1/2 year journey of bringingThe Liberty Brand (TLB) to life- can fully appreciate the impact of this revelation, I , nevertheless, couldn’t resist sharing and noting it. That it occurred in February, mere days away from Lincoln’s birthday, amplified its impact. Lincoln’s understanding of the relationship between the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence is central to The Liberty Brand’s message.
Canvas of promotional poster highlighting the choice America faces today
In fact, at Christmas my sister-in-law presented me with a canvas of a promotional poster designed to capture these sentiments and serve as a focal point in TLBCo.’s flagship shop.
The Liberty Belle Blog 