Passover 2024: Lincoln’s address on the hostages

A speech modeled on the Gettysburg Address.

This post was prepared using AI tools.

• ChatGPT prompt (first of multiple variations):
  Write a speech by Abraham Lincoln advocating for the return of American hostages in Gaza taken 6 months ago, in the style of the Gettysburg Address
• Midjourney prompt:
  /imagine Abraham Lincoln speech, standing at a podium, in front of the World Trade Center Oculus, photo-realistic

The responses are below, lightly edited or combined, with my bolding.

Lincoln delivering address on the American hostages in Gaza (Midjourney)

Fellow Americans,

Six months ago, we found ourselves faced with a challenge unlike any other that our nation has encountered. Across the vast oceans, in the troubled region of Gaza, our fellow citizens are held against their will, deprived of the freedom and dignity that is their birthright as Americans.

As we gather here today, it is imperative that we turn our attention to the plight of these hostages. Just as our forefathers fought for the noble cause of liberty on the fields of Gettysburg, so too must we now unite in the pursuit of justice for those who are unjustly detained.

We cannot ignore the cries of our countrymen who remain trapped in a foreign land. We are met on a great battlefield of conscience, where the stakes are high and the path forward uncertain.

Let us be clear: the return of our hostages is not merely a matter of policy or politics — it is a moral imperative that strikes at the very heart of who we are as a nation.

It is for us, the living, to rededicate ourselves to the cause of freedom and justice. Let us draw inspiration from the courage and resilience of those who suffer in captivity. Let us pledge, here and now, that their sacrifice shall not be in vain.

As we strive to build a better world for future generations, let us never forget the solemn duty we owe to our fellow Americans.

Let us stand together, united in purpose and unwavering in our commitment to bring them home.

Thank you.

For my other Passover posts this year and more from prior years, see my Passover blog.