JFK Remembered.

[Matilda]

I saw this fine piece that I'd like to share with all of you who
remember JFK. It describes so well the way I felt about him, a
teenager in Australia, with a lifelong interest in politics
awakened by this unique man. Perhaps it's particularly poignant
now because what we are seeing in my country and yours seems to
be the antithesis of everything we believed in then, and perhaps
also because those of us old enough to remember him are already
much older than he was when he left us. But we've never quite lost
the sense of hope we had, or we wouldn't be here on DU.

Here is the link http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1118-03.htm

[G_j]

1. this should work

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1118-03.htm


nice article, thanks.. :-)

[Matilda]

3. Thank you - I fixed the link.

[Say_What]

2. Memories and a working link

I was married November 23, 1963 the day after JFK was assasinated. Invitations were sent out, halls rented, caterers, etc. wedding could not be cancelled.

It was the first time I remember there being something covered around the clock. On that beautiful Indian Summer day when he was buried, I remember Charles DeGaulle and Emperor Haili Salasi (sp) walking together down Pennsylvania area with dozens of heads of state from countries from around the globe. And the drums--that's what I remember more than anything--the funeral drums. The media talked about how stoic Jackie was--fer keerist's sake she was in shock--numb--who wouldn't be. But she somehow had the presence of mind to put together that funeral. Hasn't been any First Lady that has compared to her since, not even close. Chet Huntley and David Brinkley covering the news as it happened and Huntley openly emotional as he announced that President Kennedy was dead, shot in Dallas. Everything changed after that--the sense of security that the country had was gone.

Then on live tv Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald--on live tv!! Jasus that was surreal. No question that JFKs assasination changed us--more so than 9/11, at least IMHO.

On the 25th anniversary PBS in Boston aired the entire funeral, which was an all day thing. I'm kinda wondering if they'll do the same thing on the 40th.

When I lived in Boston I met Dave Powers who was active in all of Kennedy's campaigns and assigned as special assistant when he became president. Later he was curator of the John F. Kennedy Library. I recongnized him at a restaurant in Dorchester and said hi to him. He got up from his table, came over and introduced himself to us and asked us if we were going to the Library. On leaving he said "We will never know what he might have accomplished had he lived." It was a special moment for me--I saw him again in the same restaurant about a year later. He died in 1998.

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1118-03.htm

[Matilda]

4. I agree, I think November 22nd had a greater impact

than 9/11. I've thought about this, and I can only come up with the
thought that perhaps it was first, that he was someone we all felt
we knew personally, and second, that of course that kind of calamity
was so unexpected - that was my first reaction - "No, it can't be,
not in America". Today, we're less surprised. And we all remember
exactly where we were on that day. How difficult for you that your
wedding day memories would also have another association.

I feel particularly desolate this year, and I think it has a lot to
do with the world, thanks to Bush & Co., going so far in the
opposite direction - instead of hope, we now have fear and paranoia,
and I'm remembering how different it all felt with Kennedy.