Tag: John F. Kennedy

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving as we all pause to reflect on the blessings we have had over the past year.

A few quotes to reflect upon on this day:

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.” William Shakespeare

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue but the parent of all the other virtues.” Cicero

“If we cannot help the many who are poor, we cannot save the few who are rich,” John Fitzgerald Kennedy

As a teenager and young man, I lived through the changes of the ’60’s and ’70’s – Civil Rights movement, Vietnam and Watergate especially.

For the entire decade of the 1970’s, I served on active duty in the U.S. Navy, seven of those years overseas. Viewing America from afar and listening to the views and opinions of citizens of foreign countries about what was going on at home provided a perspective I have always appreciated.

America renews itself periodically with change. I hope, in the New Year, we can see such a renewal again.

Last year we elected Donald Trump as President. To say he has been a huge disappointment to me is an understatement. Maybe he will get the idea he is supposed to lead the country instead of attempting to cause a stir on Twitter.

To those of you who still support him, good luck to you. Through our first 44 presidents, we have elected some liars, lemons and losers, but we never elected a tyrant. I hope I can still say that when 45 is done.

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John F. Kennedy – Remembering That Day

In some ways it doesn’t seem like 50 years since President John F. Kennedy was murdered in Dallas.

I was a senior in high school, home early that day because of a need to have stitches removed.

I was listening to the radio when a news flash came across the air saying shots had been fired at President Kennedy’s motorcade. Shortly thereafter we heard he was shot and about an hour later, we heard President Kennedy was dead.

It seemed unreal. This was 1963, we didn’t shoot presidents anymore. That was something we read about in history books.

Two days later, we watched on live television as Kennedy’s alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was murdered at Dallas police headquarters.

What was happening in America?

Was this really the country that was called the leader of the free world and the model for all democratic nations? (A question that remains very timely today)

Those questions were asked by many who were virtually glued to their televisions through Kennedy’s funeral on Monday November 25th.

To many around the world, America seemed stuck in the wild west. It still does for that matter.

Kennedy was a president who was admired and respected throughout much of the world. He inspired optimism, hope and confidence, something we haven’t seen since, in my opinion.

America lost its remaining innocence on November 22, 1963. It’s optimism and hope have been reduced in the intervening 53 years.

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