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The article presents the actions of Abraham Lincoln in trying to address the issue of slavery in the U.S. as an example of how this generation should try to establish the foundation for solving the various problems related to sustainability so that they might someday be resolved. Lincoln understood the importance of maintaining the larger framework in which the lesser problem of defining the specific issues might proceed with sufficient deliberation. Lincoln has also demonstrated the importance of the qualities of clarity, courage, humor, generosity, kindness and wisdom.

The article responds to the paper "Framing Sustainability," by David Orr in this issue. It is agreed that Abraham Lincoln is an excellent example of the ways and means by which a leader causes change. It is pointed out that the issue of sustainability is best framed as a comprehensive change in people's habits, lifestyles and values. Like the issue of slavery, sustainability is concerned with the way of life and of creating wealth. Thus, it will require people to develop a new culture. This will be a difficult task because there is wide gap between the culture of growth and the culture of limits.

The article responds to the paper "Framing Sustainability," by David Orr in this issue. Orr is right in claiming that the peoples of the world are now engaged in a discussion about the issues on sustainability and that no national leader has yet provided the framework for an appropriate vision of sustainability. However, this is not merely a conversation. This is a fight because many of those who are against it wield great power. The actions in the U.S. Senate regarding legislation affecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge whereby the proposal to allow oil drilling in the refuge has not been allowed to pass will reverberate throughout history.