JFK on PEACE: "...war is inevitable - that mankind is doomed..."

[texpatriot2004]

http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/JFK061063.html

Commencement Address at American University in Washington,
June 10, 1963

<snip>

First: 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.

We need not accept that view. Our problems are manmade -- therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. Man's reason and spirit have often solved the seemingly unsolvable -- and we believe they can do it again.

I am not referring to the absolute, infinite concept of universal peace and good will of which some fantasies and fanatics dream. I do not deny the value of hopes and dreams, but we merely invite discouragement and incredulity by making that our only and immediate goal.

Let us focus instead on a more practical, more attainable peace -- based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions -- on a series of concrete actions and effective agreements which are in the interest of all concerned. There is no single, simple key to this peace -- no grand or magic formula to be adopted by one or two powers. Genuine peace must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It must be dynamic, not static, changing to meet the challenge of each new generation. For peace is a process -- a way of solving problems.

<snip>

So, let us not be blind to our differences -- but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.

[serryjw]

1. NOTICE: My tag line

For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.



By far my favorite quote

The Pakistians and Indians are crying over the lose of their children today....Not that they don't have a DVD player.

[texpatriot2004]

2. You know I have noticed your posts many times, I like what you

have to share but your tag line went unoticed until this moment.

It is an exceptional quote, wise and human.

You are right about those who mourn their losses in India and Pakistan and I think of those to who were wounded. It's tragedy, there is no class or color that saves us from suffering in tragedy.

[serryjw]

3. The truth is all people basically want the same thing

for themselves and their families..and the material stuff is Bushit born from Corporate America. Funny, Americans love their cars but are giving them up at record rates for bicycles to use as transportation and economy.

[texpatriot2004]

4. I agree 100% All humans, or a huge majority want these things.

The same things family, health, safety, security, etc.

[jokerman93]

5. Peace could be real

"Let us examine our attitude toward peace itself. Too many of us think it is impossible. Too many think it unreal."

So the first step in making Peace possible is figuring out how to change the prevailing belief about what's possible. Others in the past have broken through barriers that stood in the way. How do we build on the legacy and lessons of Peace leadership from the past?

[texpatriot2004]

8. Bingo! That's the real issue. Too many think it's not possible...

a "dangerous and defeatist" attitude.

[BeFree]

6. The reverse is our reality

Jack said:
"Let us focus instead on a more practical, more attainable peace -- based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions -- on a series of concrete actions and effective agreements which are in the interest of all concerned. There is no single, simple key to this peace -- no grand or magic formula to be adopted by one or two powers. Genuine peace must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It must be dynamic, not static, changing to meet the challenge of each new generation. For peace is a process -- a way of solving problems".

...'the product of many nations'... But all it takes is one to destroy the peace. All it took was one country to invade Iraq. The only way it could invade was because it had built up it's armies... had it a reasonable army, it could have never invaded, hence there would be peace.

When that nation decided to increase it's armies beyond reasonable defense levels, it set the stage for destroying the peace. Unfortunately, there seemed to be just 10% of that nation's people who were against the buildup of that nation's armies. I doubt that number has grown... it remains at or near ten percent. That bodes ill for making true peace a reality.

[The2ndWheel]

7. So we're counting on

"Our problems are manmade -- therefore, they can be solved by man."

the problem to be the solution? No wonder history repeats itself.

As long as we have relatively cheap energy, or an alternative that is as cheap and can power a modern nation-state, we'll be alright. Other than the pollution and other problems resulting from using those resources(everything has an up and down side, nothing is perfect).

But if and when that disappears, we're back to being slaves in a Kingdom. Wait...well, 3rd century slaves anyway.

How can you not be a "defeatist" when faced with the question of civilization?

[jokerman93]

13. When a civilization declines

The seed of the new is already emerging. That's how it works. Are we that generation? If we are, then we build it now through new trans and para-political institutions, coallitions and federations worldwide designed to endure the shift and the hard pangs of death and birth. We build it now on the ruins of the old dispensation before they crumble completely.

Think global. Think epochal.

But how? How? How?

[formernaderite]

9. and he believed this and still went to Vietnam...

hmmm, not getting the point.

[Cookie wookie]

10. Back then there was the belief in the domino theory

that Communism would spread and had to be stopped. Kennedy did send troops as advisors and Bobby Kennedy, who fought communism and defended the war early on, became antiVietnam war. We'll never know what his brother would have done. It was Johnson who escalated the war, after all.

[Cookie wookie]

11. Back then there was the belief in the domino theory

that Communism would spread and had to be stopped. Kennedy did send troops as advisors and Bobby Kennedy, who fought communism and defended the war early on, became antiVietnam war. We'll never know what his brother would have done. It was Johnson who escalated the war, after all.

[texpatriot2004]

12. Yes, Johnson escalated it and JFK wanted to pull out of VietNam

I agree.