Words of Peace

Shortly after John F. Kennedy brought the country through the Cuban Missile Crisis he gave a commencement address at American University. In it he very eloquently discusses the prospects of world peace during the cold war. It was relevant then and seems highly relevant now and is worth a read. Here are a few excerpts:

From John F. Kennedy's American University Commencement Address, June 10th, 1963

"...Let us examine our attitude toward peace itself. Too many of us think it is impossible. Too many think it unreal. But that is a dangerous, defeatist belief. It leads to the conclusion that war is inevitable--that mankind is doomed--that we are gripped by forces we cannot control."

and

"The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war. We do not want a war. We do not now expect a war. This generation of Americans has already had enough--more than enough--of war and hate and oppression. We shall be prepared if others wish it. We shall be alert to try to stop it. But we shall also do our part to build a world of peace where the weak are safe and the strong are just. We are not helpless before that task or hopeless of its success. Confident and unafraid, we labor on--not toward a strategy of annihilation but toward a strategy of peace."

Too bad Bush et al. didn't take these words to heart...

Full Speech

Out a Window in Brooklyn

The Blue Jumper

Thomas

James

Goodbye Franklin...

Because...

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