JFK: 50 Years Later

Today is the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of the 35th President of the United States of America, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. While I am too young to remember (I was born in 1962) I do know from what I have read that he was a DINO (Democrat In Name Only) in today's terms. I truly believe that had he not been killed we as a nation would be very different today.

I believe that while JFK was a womanizer and unfaithful to Jackie, he was NEVER unfaithful to the oath he took as a Naval Officer and the President of the US. He was honorable when dealing with others, he wanted racial equality in everything thus his brother Robert pressing President Johnson to sign into effect the Civil Rights Act in 1964, and the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

JFK was a man before his time. He asked Americans with his inaugural address, not what your country could do for you but what you could do for your country. Maybe I am old fashioned enough to think that every young man & woman should do something for their country, whether serve in the armed forces or "VISTA" as it was called in the 1960's & 1970's, now known as Ameri Corps VISTA.

When we think of Presidents as a whole, we think of them as men in their plus 50's, whom are far removed from the American people. It was Jackie whom did not allow this. She opened the White House to tours, so that all Americans could see where the President lived. While many at the time criticized her for this, many saw her as a visionary of what the White House, the First Lady, and President should be.

I think of JFK were alive today he would be very disgusted with the way Congress and the office of the President of the United States have been acting. First of all, he fought in WWII to prevent communism from taking over the world, he would have seen right through President Obama, and what he is doing to our nation. As for Congress, I do think he would have been down on the floor of both houses, telling them to "get their collective sh*t together". I am also positive he would have NEVER not covered his heart while reciting the pledge, laughing while the flag is raised, or ask that the Armed Forces remove "GOD" from their oath.

You see while JFK might have been raised with a silver spoon in his mouth, he served this country as a man. First as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, then as a Congressman, and then our President.

Student Newspaper v. 1st Amendement

I am happy that these high school newspaper students thought enough to address the school mascot name in the school paper, and with the school board. While their plea NOT to use the school's "REDSKINS" mascot name in print in the school newspaper, their plea fell on deaf ears as the school board declined their request.

My question is: Is by blocking this request, squashing their First Amendment Right to free speech? Understand that I am throwing this out here for discussion because truly I feel that the students rights have been trampled.

While I understand that the School Board makes the by-laws for the school district, the curriculum, and the budget, which by the way includes a school newspaper. Maybe it is time for the School Board to take a class in high school civics, where The Constitution is not only taught but discussed throroughly (or it least it was when I was in school).

If you google the Neshaminy School DIstrict, there has been a request from a Native American parent, and the Pennsylvania Human RIghts Commission (PHRC) to cease using the "Redskins" as the school mascot. In CNY alone, Livverpool High School was forced to cease using "Warriors" as well as Central Square "Redmen" as their mascot names. While I feel both can be used as "slurs" the CNY region has true ties to the Native American nations. Onondaga's, Mohawks, Oneida's, Iroquois, Cayuga's, Seneca's, & Tuscarora's. What many do not realize is that those of us raised in the CNY region embrace our beginnings as Native American settlements.

Maybe I am making a mountain out of an anthill, however I feel as if these students rights were violated. To my teacher friends, can you please help me to understand why the district would vote this way.

http://www.buckslocalnews.com/articles/2013/11/14/the_advance/news/doc5255a907285cb470672258.txt

VETERAN'S DAY

A VETERAN: 

Someone, whom at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the USA for an amount up to, and including their life. That is beyond honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember this fact. This is dedicated to all our brothers and sisters, moms, dads, husbands, wives and many more that serve our country. 

Veteran's Day began with a treaty. A treaty according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary is as follows: "an official agreement that is made between two or more countries or groups. "...At the eleventh hour, On the eleventh day, in the eleventh month of the year..." was how the Treaty of Versailles was agreed upon to end the "The Great War". In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared that November 11th was the holiday to be known as "Armistice Day" with the following words: "...To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing in which it has freed us and because the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations..."

To many people it is just another "holiday" to sleep in, get some housework done, grocery shop, or do something that has nothing to do with why this holiday was begun. 

While we have become a nation that has forgotten all about the many battles our veteran's have faced in their life. Some of the biggest battles they have waged are NOT on the battlefield but on the streets of this country where they were spat upon when they returned home; or with the red tape & bureaucracy that entangles them NOT to get the services they need to lead a productive life after military service. 

Do our children know of these things? My answer to that would be a huge, emphatic, "NO" because we want to raise a kinder, gentler American child. To those whom are reading this that think this way, please remember the following quote, "...Those who fail to remember the past are condemned to repeat it..." it seems that people forgot after 1918, that there was never supposed to be another "war" however war again raised its very ugly head in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. Then again in 1953, with the Korean War, then again in 1955 with the Viet Nam War; in 1991 in Desert Storm, and currently first in Iraq then into Afghanistan after the events of 9/11.

It seems to many in this country that we are the "World's Policeman". In many ways we are, we do what no other country on this earth will, fight oppression and freedom. Our men and women in uniform hold precious our freedoms that they are willing to fly to a distant land, live without the creature comforts of home (showers, hot meals, seeing their loved ones) all to preserve what many take for granted, "freedom". Why is it millions come here legally and illegally to the United States, I can only think of one word, "freedom". 

Every day when you see a veteran, whether he is in uniform or wearing a ball cap, walk up to him or her and say, "THANK YOU". If you are in a restaurant and see a group of veterans, pick up the tab or send dessert over, let them know they matter, and that their service was not in vain.

To the men and women of the ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINES, & COAST GUARD, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.