Did you know that Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin, two luminaries of the 19th century, were born on the same day, February 12, 1809?   It seems as if evolution and equality had discovered a common way to meet at a common point of interest, in order to celebrate two distinctly different contributions to humanity. Two men, one a naturalist, and the other, an emanicipator, were worlds apart in life, yet, historically remembered for having achieved objectives that have become perpetual beacons of civilization.

In spite of their parting ways of ideology, both men had a lot in common, both having been motivated by the cruel injustice of slavery.  It is believed that Darwin and his family were staunch abolitionists.  Darwin expressed his disgust when advocates of slavery justified their position by asserting that white European humans and black African humans did not belong to the same species.  Darwin’s theory of Evolution was, in fact, supported by his conviction that all humans were one.  He maintained that the idea of evolution was worth pursuing, considering that its basis was one of equality.  Similarly, Lincoln’s struggle to free slaves was propelled by his belief that all human beings are created equally, since they have evolved from a common source.

Bear in mind that both Lincoln and Darwin did not easily achieve their goals which they so diligently pursued.  Lincoln was confronted by practitioners of slavery who considered black human beings to be less than human, while Darwin faced an opposition so overwhelming that it took a long time for his ideology to be finally alloted a colorful, materialistic design on the infinite tapestry of human affairs.  Darwin’s lifelong achievement served to imperil his life, prior to the acceptance of his belief by a sizable section of the scientific world, though not to the outright exclusion of religion and theism.

The untimely death of Lincoln had, in fact, further solidified his conviction  that all men are created equal, while the cause of freedom remains unshaken to this day.