In 1963, during the height of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, President John F Kennedy delivered a commencement speech at American University. Although his speech was in the context of the Cold War, the essence of his speech still rings true even in this post Cold War age. In some respects, they might perhaps be even truer today than when he spoke them four decades ago. Here are some key excepts of his speech: "What kind of peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace - - the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living -- the kind that enables man and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children - - not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women - - not merely peace in our time but peace for all time... With such a peace, there will still be quarrels and conflicting interests, as there are within families and nations. World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor - - it requires only that they live together in mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement. And history teaches us that enmities between nations, as between individuals, do not last forever. However fixed our likes and dislikes may seem, the tide of time and events will often bring surprising changes in the relations between nations and neighbors... Let us focus instead on a more practical, more attainable peace - - based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions - -on a series of concrete actions and effective agreements which are in the interest of all concerned. There is no single, simple key to this peace - - no grand or magic formula to be adopted by one or two powers. Genuine peace must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It must be dynamic, not static, changing to meet the challenge of each new generation. For peace is a process - - a way of solving problems." The full speech can be found at: http://www.american.edu/media/speeches/Kennedy.htm
Considering that the Bush regime is practicing foreign policy in start contrast to what Kennedy preached in this speech, it might be amusing for someone to write what a hypothetic Bush speech might sound. Here's my attempt: "What kind of peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek? We seek a Pax Americana imposed on the world by American economic and military might. I am talking about genuine peace - - the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living for Americans, where oil is cheap and plentiful and the world abounds with nations subservient to American power and American interests at the expense of their own. With such a peace, there will certainly be quarrels and conflicting interests, as there are within families and nations. World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor - - it requires only that weak neighbors submit meekly and without question to the will of the biggest neighbor in the neighborhood. You are either with us or against us. And for those who are against us, I say, bring it on!
Polypheus, the goal of the Bush Administration in foreign and domestic afffairs isn't really to make life better for "Americans" as you say, it's primarily to make it better for rich Americans, especially ones which attend fundraising dinners and preferably with ties to the energy or defense industry, and then, maybe, because "a rising tide lifts all boats" , the rest of us non-rich, non energy industry type americans may get some of the crumbs and leavings.
Very nice quote, r35352. And pretty ironic, given the current administration. I saw JFK give his speech at Rice Stadium with my Mom... the one where he said, "We are going to land a man on the Moon before the end of this decade and return him safely to Earth... ". My quote is probably off, but I've been forever grateful to have parents who took me out of school to witness something that had such an impact on me. I was about 12, and I've never forgotten the feeling this charismatic man engendered. God, what a speaker! The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and chills just raced through me. The stadium was packed and just erupted in cheers and applause when he made that statement... and several other times as well. I've never been as moved by a political speaker since.
This is the only peace possible. I wonder what would have happened if the US just unilaterally disarmed at any point in its history. hmmm
i agree..it sounds really nice to talk about...but would there be more or less peace in bosnia without american weapons of war?
When did JFK cut the Pentagon's budget? If I'm not mistaken, he did the opposite. It was a rhetorical statement of hope for a future when these weapons might not be needed. If you were old enough to remember the civil defense drills in all the public schools... the sirens going off, walking quickly to the hallways where you got down on the floor facing the wall with your hands covering the back of your neck, you might have a concept of how fearful people were and how much they needed hope that this might one day end.
MM...did you see the Time magazine cover & story from 2-3 weeks ago? A picture of FDR riding in his car with the headline "They Don't Make Democrats Like They Used To". Great article...if you can find a copy you should read it.
No..I didn't read that. The problem may be more imagery than substantive. But if that's the case, it's the Dems' fault for letting themselves be cast in a negative light. When I think about JFK...and then I think about the candidates that the Dems have put up since then...Clinton, included...it's like night and day.
