A very good day today
Today is the anniversary of Lincoln’s birthday. And of Darwin’s birthday too. The man who freed slaves in the US and set American democracy on the course of increasing freedom started his life today. He also, at great cost, kept the country together. He gave his life to his cause too.
Darwin also brought freedom. But this time the freedom was in thought, to consider how life developed and grew to fill the planet as a natural process instead of one handed down by religious authorities. He kept scientific though moving forward instead of dividing in a civil war of what can and can not be considered.
Neither man did the work by themselves, both relied on others to implement and fulfill their work and both stood on ideas prepared by others. But both, for better or worse, have come to symbolize the battles that they were part of. So here’s to both of them and here’s to our efforts at keeping their work alive and building on it.