Remember Lincoln in evaluating Bush

I read many letters to the Fence Post declaring the current Bush presidency to be the worst ever and his competency in serious doubt.

Judging by the polls, this may be the general consensus. However if you are a student of history, you need to reserve final judgment on such matters.

Abraham Lincoln, who we honor today as one of our finest presidents, was greatly reviled during much of his term in office.

The Civil War he presided over was a terrible drain on the resources and morale of our country.

The generals he selected were for the most part abject failures, and the loss of life and destruction of property of epic proportions.

Yet today we marvel at his courage and convictions in seeing the issues of his time through.

I'm not saying that George Bush will ever receive similar recognition. However, none of us can predict the course of history.

It is possible our nation may at some point view in a different light the events of our times.

Could, for example: The end of Hussein's dictatorship and reign of terror be viewed as a transforming event? Has terrorism as a growing risk to all of civilization been reversed? Has the threat of nuclear weapons in the hands of rogue nations like Libya, North Korea and Iran been restrained? Have the seeds of democratic processes been generated in the Middle East?

Nobody knows at this point how future events will play out, but we should at least keep an open mind relative to our nation's long-term goals as Lincoln did during his darkest days.

History tells us success cannot be measured by the popular opinion of the times.

James Mooney

Arlington Heights