On the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first Republican President of the United States, I am reminded of perhaps Lincoln's greatest achievement and legacy -- the liberation of an enslaved race.

The irony doesn't escape me that now, a vast majority of those descended from liberated slaves have abandoned the party of Lincoln, and vote enmasse for the party who wanted to keep them all in chains. Indeed, if the President's party had its way, he wouldn't even be allowed to vote for President, much less occupy the office. (I am also befuddled in my attempts to understand how African-Americans see the President as "one of their own" -- particularly, given that most African-Americans are probably descended from slaves, and the President is not.)

NOTE: In voting for the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution, all 118 Republicans in Congress approved the measure to end slavery, while only 19 of 82 Democrats supported freedom for Americans of African descent. Likewise, it was the Republicans in Congress who singlehandedly pushed the 14th and 15th amendments through Congress (granting citizenship and guaranteeing voting rights for African-Americans), while not a single Democrat in Congress voted for either amendment.

This leads me to believe one of two things about a majority of the descendants of those freed by the actions of our first Republican President -- those who repeatedly vote for Democratic candidates. Either they are ignorant of the facts (that it was the Republicans, not the Democrats, who ardently supported and fought for their liberty), or abhorantly ungrateful both to President Lincoln and his party, without whom, they certainly would not enjoy the freedom and rights they do this day.

So, which is it? Ignorance or ingratitude?!?

Personally, I cannot fathom how anyone would want to claim either as the reason behind the grossly illogical fact that the majority of African-Americans continue to support the party which viewed them as property.

Just something to ponder as we celebrate the anniversary of Lincoln's birth, and why the President (who claims to admire Lincoln), has chosen instead to side with the party who wanted to keep African-Americans in chains. I find this most peculiar. Am I alone in this, or is something woefully amiss by this whole scenario?