" Lincolns path to free the slaves, partly became public from that debate, and others. At the time, free but still inferior was an improvement to their plight. It took more than a hundred years, for it to move from slavery, through seperate but equal, to equal, and now almost 50 years after the civil rights movement gaind strength and vision from doctor Kings and many others efforts, we have a strong candidate for our president that is not white. It all began with Lincoln, taking the unpopular stance against slavery. If he had gone directly to free and equal, in the same time frame, he would never have been president, slavery would heve continued, ant the civil war might not have happened. His doing so, as he did, is why his legacy is still that of the great emancipator. He took the necessary first step of the journey, that leads us to the equality we see prevalent today.

Lincoln was ahead of his time, even stating as much as he did. This debates statements, being a qualifier of his legacy as the great emancipator, fits fine. Splitting hairs on possible meanings, of one word, and throwing in some nonsense, of his having represented former slave owners, is supposed to give the site a better representation.

He was a lawyer. Both sides of any case, are to be represented by qualified and competent individuals. Lawyers take all cases, not just the ones they agree with, or only representing innocent people of cimes or actions they face in court. That long established protection still stands today.

Many stances Lincoln took, have been debated, on how strongly, and why he felt slaves should be freed. This wording does nothing to diminish, or impune his legacy, the site, debate, or ours for inhabiting the areas he rode the circuit as a lawyer in.

Currently the illegal immigration, and undoccumented workers in this country, are a modern day version of slavery issues in this country. Immigration laws are for more than just deporting illegals. They exist, so wages, benefits, protections and rights are equally distributed. Ignoring immigration laws, is contributing to a type of slavery, and undermining the resources of the country in the process.

Trying to skew interpretation, of important past or current events, seems to be a recurring theme. Internal questions being raised, is not a plaques responsibility to direct the possible interpretations. The proposed revised rewording, is more of a hit on the significance, than the one the historical society plans to erect. It is demeaning to this community, to have news, events, and now monuments, constantly jaded by individual opinion.

This is an opinion piece, and everyone is completely entitled to their view of anything they choose to adopt, or be outraged by, in this context. I think this wording outrage is a chosen interpretation of applying personal perceived context to the facts. Here it is fine, but in the many places this paper does the exact same thing to the news, in siding or ignoring relavent facts in issues, it is a complete disservice to its readers. "

" Thank you, Mr. Lair, for this thoughtful column. I, too, was troubled when I read the newspaper report about the markers and the intended change to the wording on the new marker. Of course, those words and ideas are part of Lincoln's thought processes and "journey", and like all journeys, his continued and changed over time, whether one considers it cynically as a journey of political expediency or one of his moral and philosophical evolution. So, of course, all of his record and speeches and writings should be an open part of the historical record. Change, redemption, growth, "process" are all marvelous elements of human development throughout life. Lincoln was a real person, a thinking, evaluative, intelligent person who demonstrated an open mind and capacity to change. No one would want that "unsavory" part of his thought process to be erased from the record. However, it is far different to be able to read that history in the museum or a library, for example, in a broader context, relating it to his own transforming and transformational process, versus having it stand alone, singular and highlighted in the "bas relief" of a fixed marker outside. Those are not the only words Lincoln spoke at the debate and arguably, they are not even the most important words. They are the most shocking and, to my mind, the most distressing. Do they really deserve to be "THE" words that most represent the significance of that man on that day? I always notice that my head lowers and my shoulders slump when I read those words and a president I love seems diminished for that moment. Yes, of course, most people now acknowledge that we need to know and understand great leaders, warts and all, but do we really need to magnify the warts to the exclusion of the all? If, for reasons inexplicable to me, the powers that be feel compelled to make those words the primary Lincoln legacy for Coles County, at least put them in a broader context of his moral, philosophical and political process of change. His thinking did not stop there, yet that marker will make those words seem much larger than their actual size. Thank you, Mr. Lair, for opening this discussion and I hope those powers that be will consider your points. "

" I think Historical Markers should stick to the facts and let the public make up their own minds on the meaning/interpretation of the event (draw their own conclusions). Historians should try to remain free from editorial comment/opinion. Notice I said "try". "

" maybe they can put it in the backwoods behind the quarry like the statue, whose idea was that? "

" The statue behind the track and quarry, is privately owned. It used to be a popular water park, called springhaven. I went there back in the seventies. Now it is being redeveloped. It now has a restaurant, a lodge and world class miniature golf, I believe. It is going to be rough keeping it alive out there. They have the double decker bus that runs around Charleston some. They hold sanctioned mini golf tournaments I think. Its not the best location, I will agree, but its cheaper than trying to get land by the interstate now. A few extra signs, and it will have a better chance.

If you have ever driven to Florida, and seen Rock City and Ruby Falls, you know what I mean. After hundreds of signs, for hundreds of miles, it's subliminal, you must see these wonders. A second and possibly third trip, you might just have to stop in and see if you missed something, or it might have been an off day for the attractions.

Well placed and weathering signs, can get lincoln log cabin, lincoln springs, the moore home, and all our sites visited by thousands more. Somehow, when it comes out of the way places, people don't take the extra steps to get them found. This county should have a designated and advertised lincoln route. Billboards, showing the way to get to sites, etc.

Arcola does better getting folks out to Rockhome gardens, than this county does to its tourist areas. If sites constantly are facing going to close, this is not the best time, to get strangers pointed in that direction. If they are continually pawned in the budget chess game, having to put, Site Closed for the state being stupid again, is hard to coordinate for hundreds of signs, for hundreds of miles.

Those little brown signs, don't cut the mustard, to get people to tourist sites and places of interest. From lake shelbyville attractions, including Eagle Creek, to all of ours. Signs need to inform, entice, and direct.

The problem with Eagle Creek being an out of the way location, of a great place, is they never got the signs up to get people to visit it the first time. Golfers, travel hundreds of miles, to play good courses. If they like the facility, they tell their friends. Business with that big of an overhead can't survive on word of mouth primarily. The new interchange, makes it even easier to get to now, from 57. exit 192 west, except for the jog between 1000N, and bruce findlay road, drive almost straight to it from there. Its been open almost a year, and they probably don't have any new signs bringing visitors to their gates.

Local Paper, should be promoting local sites, make some fliers with locations, put out at walmart, and restrants by the highway. Local eating joints, could use placemats, that map the sites of the area, folks can look over, while they stop to eat. Motels, could have them available as well. Encouraging tourism of the area, is good for all of them. If they joined in the marketing efforts, as a group, all of them would reap the rewards.

We are smack in the middle, of a lot of interesting stuff. If people have to hunt to find it, they usually won't. Just catering to traveling golfers, there is a lot in the area. If their families came, and went to sites that interest them, next thing you know we have increased tourism. Put on some multi site tournaments. Get the word, and clear signs and directions, where this stuff is, and hey we have economic growth. Folks that live here, don't evenknow where some of the stuff is, or what it is. How are folks from out of town going to fare any better at it? "

" I'm sorry, but this is just wrong that the ISHS are changing the words. Maybe they think that they are changing things for the better, but this is more of a lie than anything. How can we believe history when people are changing the facts on us? Where is the respect for Lincoln, his words, and for history? "