The E-Sylum:  Volume 11, Number 17, April 27, 2008, Article 7

MORE ON "THOU ART THE MAN"

Regarding the Lincoln "Thou Art The Man" medal mentioned
last week, Arthur Shippee writes: "It's hard to believe that
this line, and especially its context, is so little known.
It's the climactic phrase in one of the best written and most
important biblical stories, that of David, Bathsheba, and
Uriah. David's deed is the worst reported of any basically
good character in the bible. This story is key to understanding
the critical view taken of Israelite kingship by the authors
of the books of Samuel & Kings.

"When Nathan -- who is loyal to David -- says this phrase, it
is to accuse David of seducing Uriah's wife and of having Uriah
killed to hide Bathsheba's pregnancy. To use this phrase in a
good sense is unimaginable, unless one is wholly ignorant of
the context.

"Its presence on that medal is very strange. Any biblically
literate person would assume it meant to implicate Lincoln
of some crime comparable to David's. Perhaps an ignoramus
placed it on the medal, thinking it complimentary, but is
there any chance that this (if it's original and old) being
a piece of anti-Lincoln propaganda? If it is negative, it's
a very interesting comment on how some saw his rule; if it
is positive, well, with friends like that, who needs enemies?
Very embarrassing.

"Perhaps (a possibility to check) this phrase had currency
under the misapprehension that it was positive.  I would
not, however, yell this phrase on a golf course, unless an
arrest warrant were being served.

"Is the medal real? What did it signify or celebrate?
Very strange."

[I was hoping someone would explain the line's significance.
I did look up the reference and also thought it odd.  Arthur
may be right – perhaps the medal was made by Lincoln detractors.
Can anyone confirm this? -Editor]

 LINCOLN MEDAL: THOU ART THE MAN
 esylum_v11n16a21.html

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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