Posted on 11/21/2003 6:43:23 AM PST by presidio9
Edited on 04/22/2004 11:50:25 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
A short while ago, I chanced to be in Dallas, Texas, making a documentary film. One of the shots involved a camera angle from a big commercial tower overlooking Dealey Plaza and the former "book depository," and it was later necessary for us to take the road through the celebrated underpass. The crew I worked with was younger than I am (you may as well make that much younger) and consisted of a Chinese-Australian, an English girl brought up in Africa, a Jewish guy from Brooklyn and other elements of a cross-section. As we passed the "Grassy Knoll," and looked up at the window, and saw the cross incised in the tarmac, I was interested by their lack of much interest. The event of Nov. 22, 1963 isn't half as real to them as the moment, say, when the planes commandeered by suicide-murderers flew into the New York skyline. Nor, as I realized, is it half as real or poignant to me as the site of Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. Time has a way of assigning value.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
LOL...I feel yer pain!! It has been a JFK Marathon Week...SHEEEESH!!
FReegards...MUD
Having said all that, once he and his crew went into the water his actions, courage and tenacity, however hyped in later years, is admirable.
JFK was somewhat less effective in getting legislation passed, especially in the area of civil rights, mainly because his relations with Congress (LBJ, Rayburn) were so bad and for lack of sustained effort.
Not to be overlooked, however, is JFK's contribution as one of the first supply-siders who discovered a president could stimulate the economy and increase revenues by cutting tax rates.
Now I understand where you are coming from. The only history that is relevant to you is what happened to you during your lifetime. You don't understand or care why the Kennedy assasination was a defining event for our country or why most Americans alive at the time remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when Kennedy was killed. Something akin to 9/11 for you.
Likewise, my FRiend...if more liberals could carry on a conversation like you, we'd be a better country for it. I sometimes lurk over at DU.com and seriously wonder what the Leftist world's coming to. You and I may not agree with the proper size and scope of the Federal Leviathan, but at least you can explain your thoughts!! Too many RATS are entirely incapable of doing the same!!
FReegards...MUD
A truly pathetic comment.
Don't we revere all those who intrigue us? Who relieve us of the tedium of everyday life and boring associates? If that were his sole quality - and it certainly isn't - he would be long remembered and appreciated.
Arguing with you is casting pearls before swine.
OK, but that means his record as a war hero is out the window. He served and we respect all who served. But there were millions who did. He served, and in truth served poorly, and that's that. Myth dispelled.
You've got to be kidding to make such a childish remark.
Not childish at all. What's childish is you attacking Hitchens because you don't like what he is saying but lacking the stones to rebut him. Go ahead. We know the facts we'll tell you where you're wrong. We'll show you why the myth doesn't stand up. The truth is that you are unwilling to do so because you don't want to see your flawed icon in natural light.
I'm an adult and have adult opinions.
Fine. Let's hear one already. Most "adults" I know don't believe in fairytales.
It's often been remarked that American culture is becoming increasingly vulgar - as your remark demonstrates.
You're flailing now. Upon futher review I detect no vulgarity.
And you and those who think like you are the best judge of that?
So, tell us why we're wrong already. That's all we're asking for.
I don't think so. The man was a great leader and, like all such, his legacy will be discussed and disputes for a long, long time.
How? How? This mindless hero-worship is nauseating.
I'm tempted to write a glowing review about what a glowing success Jimmy Carter was a president just to demonstrate how ridiculous your opinion is.
Of course I respect that. Your generation laments "what might have been." The trouble is that it wasn't. By liberal accounts, JFK Jr. might have been a great president. Should we look forward to anniversary specials on his passing too? Should we elect Bo Jackson to the Baseball Hall of Fame?
The same people who harp on "Camelot" are the ones telling us that Chelsea Clinton is sexy.
There is nothing wrong with the Peace Corps. What's so great about it?
Gotta agree with you there. I was 18 and already in the military when he was assassanated, nobody I knew thought he was a great leader. He became St. John Kennedy after the assassanation.
How many have streets named after Reagan?
Shows you what the Germans know.
Post 10: You wrote to Airborne Ranger: You forgot to point out how his screw-up on the naval craft his father bought for him, which cost three men their lives, was spun into a "based on a true story" novel chronicling his "heroism." BTW, Joe Kennedy picked a PT boat because they were statistically one of the safest combat deployments a member of the armed forces could have in WW II. (correction of all grammar and spelling errors are on the house)
Post 17: liberallarry’s posts to you: Joe Kennedy lost a son in combat.
In context, Joe Kennedy was justified to buy John the PT boat because Joe, Jr. had been lost in combat.
Post 67: My post to you and liberallarry: Didn't Joe die after John's boat was rammed and he became a hero? Wasn't jealousy of his brother that caused Joe to volunteer to take that fateful mission? So, the buying of the PT boat wouldn't have happened because Old Joe lost young Joe in war.
In context, no Joe didn’t buy the PT boat for John because Joe, Jr. had died in WWII. Joe, Jr. wasn’t dead yet. In fact, when John received the Navy Cross, Joe, Jr. was jealous and volunteered for the dangerous mission that cost him his life.
Post 72: Your post to me: Who said it did? Liberallarry did off in answer to your post #10.
Are we clear now?
The worst part is that it always seems to just be a different version of the same conspiracy theory theme.
Oh wait, that brings us back to my earlier point: There isn't much else to talk about about the man himself. He's special for getting shot.
See many such books about Jimmy Carter?
The shelves are filled with such books about Kennedy.
Got a clue yet?
Yeah sorry. I thought you were disagreeing with me because I'm who you responded to. Instead you are pointing out that I am forced to give larry a lesson on history he was alive for and I wasn't.
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