There at the heart of the nation a great edifice a temple if you will erected to reflect the very best and greatest hopes of a nation. While the cities burn is it swift breaking dawn of a new age for the Republic, or is it a last whispering death rattle of Democracy that we witness from the steps of these hallowed grounds I tell myself not to fear our nation has struggled through many great trials to have found its way back from many dark days... yet, still, the cities burn... yet still, our nation divided... We can only stand on these steps of Lincoln's epitaph bear silent witness and hope hope