It's been 50 years since President John F. Kennedy gave his first and only inauguration speech. I'll not post the speech here, but in reading it, this morning there were many more things said aside from the famous quote, [A]sk not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. This in particular jumped out for me: The President was talking about the perils of the Soviet Union and the cold war including the nuclear buildup that was happening.

What I find so sad is that this could have been written in response to the political climate right here in our own nation today. I will be honest, I only know President Kennedy from what I was taught in school, in history books. Later I learned of the history of the Kennedy family, and all of the amazing and disappointing things they did. Still, as much as I read and understand, that personal touch just isn't the same as it is for later presidents. I can tell you about his son, John and even Jackie Onassis. For me, they were parts of a popular culture growing up. It almost seems to me that as the years go by, we are farther and farther from the Kennedy 'mystique' I remember when nearly every other school or park was named after a Kennedy. I remember it being called Camelot... 50 years passing can have a way to change the way we view history. The ideals that President Kennedy made are still valid ones today.

What I know and have learned thru the years that the things that President Kennedy fought for, the things he and his brothers strived to achieve, have not yet materialized. That is the problem. We have made great strides forward, but we have a long way to go. Kennedy is no longer with us. His words still are. Yes, words matter. Even ones strung together 50 years ago.

"Let the word go forth.....that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans."

I hope they do better than we have.



&
Raine