Over the course of the past week, we\u2019ve heard many tributes, remembrances, and questions about the life and death of JFK.\u00a0 Friday was the 50th anniversary of those shots reportedly heard \u2018round the world, the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy.<\/p>\n
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I never heard those shots.\u00a0 As a person whose most significant \u2018I-remember-when\u2019 moments are 9\/11 and the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, my thoughts on JFK stem most from the impressions shared by others.\u00a0 I was not alive on that fateful November day in \u201963.<\/p>\n
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Hence, with all due respect to the many who have far more knowledge than me, I thought it would be interesting to share\/wrestle with my perspective.\u00a0 Let me be more specific…\u00a0 I thought it would be interesting to share my perspective, which I know is limited and incomplete.<\/i>\u00a0 (Wouldn\u2019t we be more respectful and respected if we each knew and acknowledged an incomplete perspective??)\u00a0 <\/i>My observations are as follows:<\/p>\n
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JFK seemed iconic…\u00a0 There seemed more fascination with him than with other presidents.\u00a0 Maybe the iconic status manifested itself due to being so young… maybe so handsome.\u00a0 Maybe it was that he had such young, playful children in the White House.\u00a0 Maybe being the first Catholic president was a factor.\u00a0 Maybe, too, his iconic status was more cast and preserved via his shocking, untimely death.<\/p>\n
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The nation didn\u2019t know him…\u00a0 Granted, in the days before TV and celebrity were synonymous \u2014 far before Facebook \u2014 much less was known about our leaders.\u00a0 Kennedy was the first president regularly seen on TV, but there were some things people didn\u2019t see.\u00a0 The rumors of Marilyn Monroe, others, the unfaithfulness… I don\u2019t know what really happened there.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how faithful or ethical the man really was.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think those that were alive then truly knew either.<\/p>\n
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His liberal affiliation didn\u2019t mean what it means now…\u00a0 Many seem to enjoy the debate as to whether Kennedy would be a liberal or conservative if alive today \u2014 not this semi-humble blogger.\u00a0 I am far more interested in thought-provoking dialogue.\u00a0 No doubt JFK supported several stereotypical, liberal positions, such as Keynesian Econ (an Intramuralist \u201cegad\u201d)<\/i> and the expansion of Social Security.\u00a0 But Kennedy also advocated for more conservative ideas, such as limited government, a reduction in taxes for the wealthiest Americans, and more autonomy given to cities and states.\u00a0 While it seems incomprehensible to suggest JFK would definitely<\/i> be a strong Democrat or definitely<\/i> lean Republican, the reality is that Kennedy was a moderate.\u00a0 What he stood for 50 years ago is not wholly in sync with the current platform of the Democratic National Committee.<\/p>\n
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And my final, perhaps most poignant observation about Pres. John Fitzgerald Kennedy…\u00a0 We\u2019ve forgotten what he taught us.\u00a0 Kennedy shared some incredible wisdom which has been generously repeated over the past 5 decades…\u00a0 \u201cask not what your country can do for you \u2014 ask what you can do for your country.\u201d\u00a0<\/i> How refreshing in a debt-ridden country that appears plagued with a growing entitlement epidemic!<\/p>\n
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But Kennedy taught the generations one more thing, more in his death than his life \u2014 one thing I believe we\u2019ve forgotten far too quickly.\u00a0 We\u2019ve forgotten that we\u2019re vulnerable… that we\u2019re not in control of all things.<\/p>\n
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People die \u2014 sometimes in their prime.\u00a0 Too many are taken so early, and no matter their power or influence or money or other earthly matters, we are a vulnerable people.\u00a0 We are not God.\u00a0 We are not in control.\u00a0 If we truly realized our own vulnerability \u2014 and yes, limitations \u2014 my sense is we\u2019d be wiser… nicer… more respectful, compassionate, and empathetic.\u00a0 We\u2019d be kinder, humbler, and better.\u00a0 We certainly would not be so arrogant.<\/p>\n
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Like I said, there are people who have far more knowledge than me.<\/p>\n
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… working on that humility… always before knowledge…<\/p>\n
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Respectfully,<\/p>\n
AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Over the course of the past week, we\u2019ve heard many tributes, remembrances, and questions about the life and death of JFK.\u00a0 Friday was the 50th anniversary of those shots reportedly heard \u2018round the world, the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy. I never heard those shots.\u00a0 As a person whose most significant \u2018I-remember-when\u2019 moments … <\/p>\n