Hero or Villain? by Larissa

Hero or Villain? by Larissa - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

In the two hundred and forty year history of the United States, our country has witnessed the rise of several remarkable figures, from the Founding Fathers to Martin Luther Jr., who have all left their mark on our country’s landscape in one way or another. Many of these individuals developed the status of hero within the minds of many Americans, but there are always critics who question whether these people are deserving of such admiration. One of the country’s most well-known figures, Abraham Lincoln, continues to be a source of controversy, as his life has been used as a source of both inspiration and condemnation. He led the country through one of the most terrible eras it has ever endured, and is often credited with ensuring that the United States of America remained intact, but his status of national hero has continued to be debated even today.

Of all the historical figures I could choose to invite to dinner, I would then pick President Lincoln as I would like to discover directly from the source what he believed and what his motives were for some of his more divisive actions—such as the arrest of thousands of U.S. citizens for questioning the war effort, or the expansion of the president’s war powers authority. I would ask him if he felt that the Civil War was worth the cost of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and if he would have made the same decisions had the ability to do it all over again. It would also be interesting to learn how he would view his actions in light of the current state of the country, as his interpretation of the Constitution has influenced every presidency since his own, and to see what his advice would be in regards to the various issues that we now face (wars, economy, terrorism, etc.). Regardless of whether a person regards him as a hero or villain, there is no doubt that Abraham Lincoln was one of the most important figures of the past two centuries, and having the opportunity to question him would not be one to be lightly passed up.