By Curt Middleton
Whatever happened to celebrating “Independence Day?” As Americans, we have an oh so great power and
prowess to water-down holidays. Look what we’ve done to Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. The big three
are usually represented by a turkey, a fat guy in a red suit and a rabbit.
In the world of our today, when school children are asked what is the importance of Independence Day, the
frst hint that must be given is, “You know - the Fourth of July.”
The most frequent response given is “We shoot off freworks.”
In 1946, John F. Kennedy, then a candidate for Congress, uttered these words in an Independence Day
speech: “A nation’s character, like that of an individual, is elusive. It is produced partly by things we have done
and partly by what has been done to us. It is the result of physical factors, intellectual factors, spiritual factors. It
is well for us to consider our American character, for in peace, as in war, we will survive or fail according to its
measure.”
Kennedy broke the American character down into four elements - Religious, Idealistic, Patriotic and Indi-
vidualistic.
Yes, we stage patriotic parades, get together with loved ones and say a prayer in remembrance for those pay-
ing that ultimate sacrifce and tout loudly, fervently, and sometimes quite angrily that “freedom isn’t free.”
Don’t get me wrong. I love a good party. I love a great party better. But, I do hope all Americans can take
the time to refect upon ALL the meanings celebrated on Independence Day.
As for Kennedy’s description of the American character, we remain a people “...Inspired by a deeply reli-
gious sense, this country, which has ever been devoted to the dignity of man, which has ever fostered the growth
of the human spirit, has always met and hurled back the challenge of those deathly philosophies of hate and
despair. We have defeated them in the past; we will always defeat them.”
Kennedy, more than 60 years ago, said of American idealism:
“Our American idealism fnds itself faced by the old-world doctrine of power politics. It is meeting with
successive rebuffs, and all this may result in a new and even more bitter disillusionment, in another ignominious
retreat from our world destiny.
“But, if we remain faithful to the American tradition, our idealism will be a steadfast thing, a constant fame,
a torch held aloft for the guidance of other nations.
“It will take great faith.
“Our idealism, the second element of the American character, is being severely tested. Now, only time will
tell whether this element of the American character will be true to its historic tradition.”
This county was founded upon lofty ideals like “all men are created equal”...”pursuit of life, liberty and hap-
piness”...
American ideals sent us out into the world to help our neighbors in two world wars. American ideals, be-
lieved by many or not, led us to two Asian continent wars.
American ideals have led us to the Middle East.
Kennedy said of American patriotism:
“Wherever freedom has been in danger, Americans with a deep sense of patriotism have ever been willing to
stand at Armageddon and strike a blow for liberty and the Lord.”
His ending element attributed to American character is that of individualism wherein Kennedy said:
“Conceived in Grecian thought, strengthened by Christian morality, and stamped indelibly into American
political philosophy, the right of the individual against the State is the keystone of our Constitution. Each man is
free.
“He is free in thought.“He is free in expression.
“He is free in worship.”
Our nation is not our government.
It is not the men and women we elect to rule.
Our nation is not the measure of corporate wealth or material gain.
Our nation is a people and the best representation of our nation are the men and women who, like their fa-
thers and mothers before them, answer the call to arms regardless of its origin, purpose or place.
Now, once again, on this most probable holy of all American holidays, the blood of another generation
drains on foreign soil.
For or against - it doesn’t matter.
Salute not the cause, but the banner bearer.
Support not the policy, but rather the policeman.
And, Kennedy prophetically enough, uttered these speech-ending words on that long ago Independence
Day:
“We cannot assume that the struggle is ended. It is never-ending. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. It
was the price yesterday. It is the price today, and it will ever be the price.
“The characteristics of the American people have ever been a deep sense of religion, a deep sense of ideal-
ism, a deep sense of patriotism, and a deep sense of individualism.
“Let us not blink the fact that the days which lie ahead of us are bitter ones.
“May God grant that, at some distant date, on this day, and on this platform, the orator may be able to say
that these are still the great qualities of the American character and that they have prevailed.”
prowess to water-down holidays. Look what we’ve done to Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. The big three
are usually represented by a turkey, a fat guy in a red suit and a rabbit.
In the world of our today, when school children are asked what is the importance of Independence Day, the
frst hint that must be given is, “You know - the Fourth of July.”
The most frequent response given is “We shoot off freworks.”
In 1946, John F. Kennedy, then a candidate for Congress, uttered these words in an Independence Day
speech: “A nation’s character, like that of an individual, is elusive. It is produced partly by things we have done
and partly by what has been done to us. It is the result of physical factors, intellectual factors, spiritual factors. It
is well for us to consider our American character, for in peace, as in war, we will survive or fail according to its
measure.”
Kennedy broke the American character down into four elements - Religious, Idealistic, Patriotic and Indi-
vidualistic.
Yes, we stage patriotic parades, get together with loved ones and say a prayer in remembrance for those pay-
ing that ultimate sacrifce and tout loudly, fervently, and sometimes quite angrily that “freedom isn’t free.”
Don’t get me wrong. I love a good party. I love a great party better. But, I do hope all Americans can take
the time to refect upon ALL the meanings celebrated on Independence Day.
As for Kennedy’s description of the American character, we remain a people “...Inspired by a deeply reli-
gious sense, this country, which has ever been devoted to the dignity of man, which has ever fostered the growth
of the human spirit, has always met and hurled back the challenge of those deathly philosophies of hate and
despair. We have defeated them in the past; we will always defeat them.”
Kennedy, more than 60 years ago, said of American idealism:
“Our American idealism fnds itself faced by the old-world doctrine of power politics. It is meeting with
successive rebuffs, and all this may result in a new and even more bitter disillusionment, in another ignominious
retreat from our world destiny.
“But, if we remain faithful to the American tradition, our idealism will be a steadfast thing, a constant fame,
a torch held aloft for the guidance of other nations.
“It will take great faith.
“Our idealism, the second element of the American character, is being severely tested. Now, only time will
tell whether this element of the American character will be true to its historic tradition.”
This county was founded upon lofty ideals like “all men are created equal”...”pursuit of life, liberty and hap-
piness”...
American ideals sent us out into the world to help our neighbors in two world wars. American ideals, be-
lieved by many or not, led us to two Asian continent wars.
American ideals have led us to the Middle East.
Kennedy said of American patriotism:
“Wherever freedom has been in danger, Americans with a deep sense of patriotism have ever been willing to
stand at Armageddon and strike a blow for liberty and the Lord.”
His ending element attributed to American character is that of individualism wherein Kennedy said:
“Conceived in Grecian thought, strengthened by Christian morality, and stamped indelibly into American
political philosophy, the right of the individual against the State is the keystone of our Constitution. Each man is
free.
“He is free in thought.“He is free in expression.
“He is free in worship.”
Our nation is not our government.
It is not the men and women we elect to rule.
Our nation is not the measure of corporate wealth or material gain.
Our nation is a people and the best representation of our nation are the men and women who, like their fa-
thers and mothers before them, answer the call to arms regardless of its origin, purpose or place.
Now, once again, on this most probable holy of all American holidays, the blood of another generation
drains on foreign soil.
For or against - it doesn’t matter.
Salute not the cause, but the banner bearer.
Support not the policy, but rather the policeman.
And, Kennedy prophetically enough, uttered these speech-ending words on that long ago Independence
Day:
“We cannot assume that the struggle is ended. It is never-ending. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. It
was the price yesterday. It is the price today, and it will ever be the price.
“The characteristics of the American people have ever been a deep sense of religion, a deep sense of ideal-
ism, a deep sense of patriotism, and a deep sense of individualism.
“Let us not blink the fact that the days which lie ahead of us are bitter ones.
“May God grant that, at some distant date, on this day, and on this platform, the orator may be able to say
that these are still the great qualities of the American character and that they have prevailed.”
Posting Komentar