Less than six months before his assassination John F. Kennedy spoke to the nation on national TV on Civil Rights in the United States. It was one of the finest, most inspirational, speeches ever made in the history of the nation. I was privileged to watch this speech live on TV. He did not live to see it happen, but the Civil Rights legislation he urged was passed by his successor.
There have been lots of 'spoiler' comments about JFK from his political detractors of course.
ReplyDeleteMy own British view is that he is the best President the US had in reasonable historical memory and it was a tragedy that he was murdered, as I and many believe, by the same forces of evil who rigged Bush's election, who denied blacks their rights, insist on carrying guns and now deny healthcare, gay rights and a sensible non-antagonistic foreign policy.
This speech tends to make me cry for what might have been.
I just made a long reply comment with a link, and checked the Preview button to see if the link worked - then backed up to the Post Comment screen, to discover that my entire comment was gone! Ai-eeeeeeee!
ReplyDeleteSo, I'll try again without the link 'cuz it didn't work anyway.
I lost my innocence regarding realities behind extreme political rhetoric in this nation on the day of JFK's assassination. (See my post of August 8, 2010 in my Wordpress Blog) I am not by nature an adherent of conspiracy theories, but in this case I don't believe there is much doubt. The degree of hatred extant among our political extremes, particularly but not exclusively on the right is frightening, even today.
JFK's legislative agenda, mainly as it related to civil rights, was abhorrent to a large segment of the population - not limited geographically or politically. Subsequent enactment led to a mass migration of Southern Conservative Democrats to the Republican Party and created the sharp polarization in our politics that exists today.
It is sad that in many places in the US if a candidate can remember "God, Guns and Gays", all the modern code words referring to blacks and other minorities, and "support the troops" plus "listen to the Generals on the ground" - - then he is assured of being elected.
I mean - we have our problems and, worst of all, we get so much 'culture' (political and otherwise) from you guys (principally because of tv & films & the internet) but even so I'm so glad I'm European!
ReplyDeleteThere's even something oddly grown-up about this political coalition in the House of Commons and the Government. I mean - it's the first since the War for goodness' sake! I't pragmatic and it's a sort of compromise but for the first time in a very long time most people actually voted for the Government. Wow!
Of course it is all your fault that we are the way we are! For centuries you drove out and/or sent us your malcontents, criminals, religious whackos, dreamers, anti-socials and adventurers. Their characteristics have been passed down through the generations. I think this is both our greatest strength and greatest weakness.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed out on the "American Cowboy" gene. That can cause living here to be uncomfortable at times.