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2012 Laureate Acceptance Speeches

These are the acceptance speeches of the 2012 Laureates who were awarded the Order of Lincoln by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois at the 48th Convocation.

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The Lincoln Academy of Illinois

23 hours ago

Given recent events, it seems fitting to spotlight this statement from Lydia Vander Stelt, North Park University's 2019 Student Laureate:

"I would argue that part of using someone’s legacy as a guide to one’s own life means sitting in the tension of both the good and the bad dimensions of that legacy. Lincoln is praised for signing the Emancipation Proclamation, but many turn a blind eye to the damaging policies and ideologies that Lincoln implemented that gravely affected indigenous people. In regards to Lincoln’s leadership legacy it is essential to understand that while he did truly transformational work in some aspects, we ought to approach a civic-minded life by breaking down systems of oppression and violence that affect all people.

In his Gettysburg Address, Lincoln talked about the call for “us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us.” Today, the task before us seems insurmountable. Misunderstanding and disagreement rooted in white supremacy has and continues to manifest into disproportionate and violent engagement with people of color, including black and indigenous people.

As an individual who benefits from many of the systems and structures that this country was founded on, it is easy for me to choose how or to what capacity I engage. That itself is a tension that I have run away from, but I am continually realizing how turning a blind eye from other realities becomes more damaging than beneficial. A civic-minded life of service and commitment to a greater good is a life dedicated sitting in the tension between lived experiences, systemic injustice, and accountability to the voices of communities who are oppressed or discounted; for it is in that tension that we truly listen and learn, and together undertake the great task before us." ... See MoreSee Less

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Very well said!

The Lincoln Academy of Illinois

3 days ago

We hope everyone had a safe Memorial Day weekend!

We honor all the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this great country of ours. ... See MoreSee Less