A democratic socialist unseats a 15-term congresswoman in Colorado

[Martin Eden]

39. "testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure"

that we here highly resolve ... that this nation ... shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth

Dylan's song brought to mind Lincoln's great speech on the hallowed ground of Gettysburg. Today is the 163rd anniversary of the first day of that battle, which ended four score and seven years after our nation declared its independence from a tyrant.

The Civil War certainly changed things and ushered in a new birth of freedom -- and a long struggle still underway to fulfill the ideal of our founding -- that we are all created equal.

Today we are being tested whether that nation, so conceived, can endure. The times they are a-changin. Will real positive change require a catastrophic civil war, or will the consequences of a mad tyrant in the White House be sufficient to open enough hearts and minds to work together in bringing about the much needed change?

A house divided against itself cannot stand

I hold that truth to be self-evident. Truth and reconciliation is necessary. Hardened hearts must be softened, without any loss of the steely resolve required to defeat tyranny and usher in a new birth of freedom that will endure.