JFK
I attended a dinner function at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston this evening. Prior to dinner, I was able to tour the museum portion of the facility. It was riveting. Perhaps it was because JFK lived and died before I was born, yet I am old enough to remember some of his contemporaries, but I found the experience of watching his campaign speeches, the first Presidential debate, his inaugural address, and his speech on civil rights given in June 1963 when George Wallace attempted to keep the University of Alabama segregated, deeply moving.
Where are the politicians today that can inspire a generation of Americans to work for the greater good in the same way as Kennedy? If JFK were alive today and running for President would he be as successful as he was in 1960? After spending an hour listening to his speeches and looking at mementos from his presidency, I’d say he would definitely be as successful in today’s cynical climate as he was back then.
How I wish there was a politician living that could inspire me to act in the same way I was inspired just listening to a few of Kennedy’s words. I was ready to join the Peace Corp. The woman I sat next to at dinner said perhaps Kennedy’s speeches seem so inspiring because we know the complete story of how his life ended. I’ve thought about that, but I don’t think so. Kennedy spoke from the heart and didn’t worry about distilling every thought into a thirty-second sound bite, nor did he water down his elocution so folks with a third grade education could understand him.
Find me a candidate like that today, and I’d gladly campaign for him or her.
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Comments
I'm glad you were able to experience that wonderful JFK site, JD . . . I felt the same way when I visited. Here's the link to my pics (scroll down), if you're feeling nostalgic!
http://lisaswanderingfeet.blogspot.com/2005_06_01_lisaswanderingfeet_archive.html
Posted by: Lisa | March 15, 2006 7:47 AM
I remember that post. That's how I stumbled across your blog. I was running a New York restaurant and hotel review website on the side with reviews taken from comments made in passing on people's blogs.
I'd have to say the JFK library was much more impressive than the local Presidential Libary in your neck of the woods down in College Station.
Posted by: jd | March 15, 2006 11:33 AM
Don't you wish we still elected Presidents like Kennedy? I was lucky enough to be a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria from 98-00, and feel so grateful to Kennedy and Shriver that they pushed so hard to found this extraordinary agency, even if it now has been hijacked by political hacks at the helm who have never served themselves. Yesterday I bought a Bush Countdown keychain- it tells me how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds left until Bush is retired from his brutal reign. We still have 1038 days to go so I'm not excited yet!
Posted by: Alexandra | March 17, 2006 11:22 PM
Living and serving in a foreign country is an incredible experience, isn't it. I was able to live in Mexico for several years, and it truly changed my perspective.
A 1000 days left is a long time. Not to get on a soap box, but what I find so infuriating is that neither side is addressing the gravest issues that are threatening the U.S.'s long-term viability.
1. Our financial imbalances, such as trade deficit, budget deficit, national debt are unsustainable at current trend rates.
2. Social security is moving toward insolvency as baby boomers retire.
3. Healthcare needs to be reformed because rising healthcare costs are unsustainable. Significant increases in health care costs for employers are like a tax, which makes corporations less competitive with foreign entities. Healthcare is currently 10% of GDP and it is heading toward 25%.
4. International competitiveness. The U.S. is not graduating enough students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Less foreign students are coming and staying to make up the gap. This ultimately can lead to a huge drop in standard of living.
Posted by: jd | March 18, 2006 7:59 AM
I was in second grade when JFK was shot and remember it well. I knew the world would never be the same. I am sure I was reflecting the feelings of those around me, but I remember being called into the grade school auditorium where the news was announced and we all had a minute of silence and watching the scenes on the TV with my parents and crying. Pretty impactive when my other memories from the time are of sleepwalking, playing in the sandbox, and eating rubarb in the back yard. Oh, and finding out Jesus wasn't a Christian??? Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Cindy | March 21, 2006 7:07 AM
You ate rhubarb raw or did you fry it up o the backyard grill?
Posted by: jd | March 21, 2006 9:01 PM