Readers React: An Emancipation Proclamation redux?

To the editor: Bruce Ackerman left out a very important fact about the Emancipation Proclamation: Abraham Lincoln issued his order at a time of war in his role as commander in chief. While not his only justification, Lincoln meant to free the slaves in part so they could fight the rebelling Confederacy along with Union soldiers. (“Like the Emancipation Proclamation, Obama’s order forces democracy,” Op-Ed, Nov. 21)

In my mind, that is a crucial difference between what Lincoln did and what President Obama has done on immigration. We are not at war, at least not with immigrants, and what Obama has done has no bearing on the war we are involved in.

Ackerman is doubtless aware of the role Lincoln’s duty as commander in chief played in the Emancipation Proclamation, and doubtless it does not change his conclusion. Still, Ackerman should not have left this out of his piece.

Kevin R. Callahan, Arlington Heights, Ill.

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