July 1st, 2013, marked the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg. Had the North lost at Gettysburg, General Lee would have marched directly to Washington, D.C. During those three days, 51,000 soldiers were wounded and 7,500 were killed. Gettysburg marked the beginning of the end for the Confederacy.

Some 200,000 citizens attended the Gettysburg sesquicentennial commemoration. The event was televised live for 12 hours, on CSPAN. For our Civil War, for slavery, for the slaves, Gettysburg was a high water mark. Lincoln’s somber and powerful Gettysburg address still captures international acclaim.

President Obama was formally invited to be the keynote speaker at this event. America wanted to hear their President. Black Americans needed to see their mentor on that stage. The dead very much earned Obama’s honor. That war changed this country and we still need to heal its scars. Who better to help heal such deep racial wounds than our first Black President?

Obama went to Africa instead.

DAVE TOLLE

Post Falls