On the Shoulders of Giants

"Who sees further a dwarf or a giant? Surely a giant for his eyes are situated at a higher level than those of the dwarf. But if the dwarf is placed on the shoulders of the giant who sees further? ... So too we are dwarfs astride the shoulders of giants. We master their wisdom and move beyond it. Due to their wisdom we grow wise and are able to say all that we say, but not because we are greater than they" (Wikipedia on June 7, 2009)

My family is in the midst of a week-long exploration of our nation's capitol. We are re-discovering Washington DC. For my son, Andy, this is his first time to this cradle of American History. He took the red-eye special from Los Angeles and arrived at noon yesterday, chomping at the bit. So we went to the two most impressive structures in DC; the Washington Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.

This was my first time inside the Washington Memorial. The view was incredible and the structure awesome. As we descended in the elevator, the park ranger slowed to allow us to see what we were missing, namely the myriad of plaques honoring the Father of our Country. What a shame that we could not continue to enjoy those tributes due to the acts of a few individuals.

But the most impressive and touching memorial on the mall, and the simplest, is the Lincoln Memorial. This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of this great man's birth. I am sure we will see many more exhibits honoring him. But I cannot help but be touched as I enter the Lincoln Memorial, see this great man and then read his inspired words.

I start with the Gettysburg Address on the left. I am choked up by the sacrifice of the soldiers that fought in the Civil War. They gave the ultimate sacrifice not against some invading horde but against thier brothers. I can't say it better than Honest Abe; "from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, 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." (Gettysburg Address)

I then walked to the right side of the memorial and read again the words of the second inaguaral address. And this time, the words mean even more to me. Perhaps it is a sign on our time, but I was touched by these words: "It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing thier bread from the sweat of othermen's faces but let us judge not that we be not judged."

Two great principles that I learn from that simple statement.

• First that we shuld be responsible for ourselves and do the work needed to succeed on our own.
• Second, that we should not judge our brother, even in the most obvious of errors or ommissions.

I am humbled and grateful to have the shoulders of our forefathers an which to stand. If we choose to ignore thier wisdom, then we will be dwarves; straining to see the rising sun from the depths of the gully, when we could be standing on the shoulder's of giants and enjoying the beautiful dawn.