Yeah... I think pretty much every American underestimates the power of the indoctrination we have been subjected to. Not just about Lincoln but many things.

When I was in my twenties one of my friends I drove to work with who is from the south really schooled me on Lincoln. I listened to him but disagreed... but he ran circles around me with his knowledge of the "War of Northern Aggression". I know what people will think about that because its what I thought at the time... but he's not a Neo-confederate. He's a history buff though and reads deeply many source materials. He's actually a history teacher now.

A couple years ago I went out to lunch with him and told him I'd come around to his view. It happened because a friend of mine turned me on to Tom Woods and I read some of Thomas J. DiLorenzo's works. It took a while but after checking his sources I came around to his way of thinking on Lincoln.

I find it interesting that the CCP has used Lincoln as a example of what they want to do with Hong Kong. One of my defects or qualities is not letting go of inconsistencies. Ultimately it is what destroyed my faith in the conservative movement. Lincoln is a huge problem when you take the time to explore his actual history.