There was once a time, not too long ago, in fact, when public pride in America was as uncontroversial as apple pie. Sure, like all countries we have our turbulent and dark pasts, but never have we stopped working toward our famous ideals of “equality” and freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.
The New York Times and its financially thriving “1619 Project” would have you think otherwise. Indeed, they would have you think America was born in sin and in sin remains. That we are a racist, irredeemable country. This destructive rhetoric sells—as all outrage tends—though it is not true, as many leading historians have demonstrated. But more needs to be said.
What Americans need is a kind of anti-1619 Project. Luckily, such a film now exists: Right Makes Might: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates is streaming now on Amazon.
This documentary features the most famous debates in American history that turned a little-known Illinois lawyer into a presidential contender when Abraham Lincoln confronted slavery with the Declaration of Independence’s idea that all men are created equal.
Described by Lincoln historian Allen Guelzo, Right Makes Might: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, is a timely documentary that features noted scholars Michael Burlingame, Lucas Morel, and Charles Kesler exploring the most famous series of political debates in American history.
