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November, 2002 Some holidays have come and gone in Thailand, and more are set to come soon. But sooner, the U.S. will celebrate a national holiday. It behooves all American citizens, including those who don't live in the U.S. to reflect upon where this celebration came from, and where it is going. No doubt about it, America has changed since the first Thanksgiving. Some people would like to change some things back to the way they were. Visit the Forum Join the discussion. Now in Progress: Last Friday marked the 39th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Except that there have been recent revelations concerning Kennedy's health when he was president, the anniversary seemed to go unnoticed. Yet, when I think about it, that day was every bit as pivotal in history as 9/11, if not moreso. For me, it was a day when the whole world changed. At the time I was still attending elementary school in the United States. I had no idea what was happening in the world, except that we were afraid of being attacked by Communists. I had the child's luxury of not having to care about the domestic economy or international affairs or politics or anything that didn't immediately affect my personal liberty to run around, climb trees, get dirty, and get chased by girls. Then suddenly everything changed. Sitting in the classroom, I saw the janitor come to the door and say something to the teacher. Then I saw something I never saw before - the teacher wiped a tear from her eye. That was enough to keep the class silent. Who ever thought that a teacher would cry? She announced that President Kennedy had died. And then we were really silent for a few moments - not because of any revelations concerning what we had just been told, but because we wanted to behave appropriately and not disappoint the teacher. Before the conspiracy theorists had much evidence, there was 4 Days In November which captured the shock and despair of the nation. The film makers also captured some footage that has rarely been seen." In those days, there were no counselors or child psychologists to invade the schools to console traumatized children (as there were a few years ago when kids found out that Pee Wee Herman [a tv star] did something naughty in a movie theater) In 1963, I think, adults were too much in shock, themselves, to consider that children might also be hurting. I really felt the gloom that hung over the land for the next several days, and weeks, and months to come. And upon reflection even then I could sense that my own life had changed. It wasn't just the dealing with the concept of death. It wasn't just the dealing with the gory details of the death or the bold and astounding fact of a public assassination. It was all that plus the realization that my hero was gone. You see, there was a time when I, like many other kids, aspired to be president. John F. Kennedy was my inspiration. I envisioned myself standing like he did, making speeches like he did, confronting national crises and carrying the burdens of the world with charisma and dignity and that measure of greatness that the man had. I had read "Profiles in Courage" and wanted to identify with the characters in those short stories, as, I'm sure, the book's author did. Maybe it was just a child's eye-view, maybe it was just the impressionable nature of youth, but I don't think so. Even today, when I see photos or film clips of John F. Kennedy, I feel there was something special about him - that together with his eloquence and intellegence and ideals and courage, John F.Kennedy had about him an aura of leadership, unmatched by anything we see today. Well, there are some reasons why I feel compelled to think about JFK these days. John F. Kennedy, I think, had true qualities of a leader; he didn't have to redefine the word "leadership" to suit his image; he didn't need to constantly refer to his leadership ability or vocally affirm for himself that he was the leader, he just was. John F. Kennedy was able to speak intelligently with conviction, not just read and stumble through a document one phrase at a time. Kennedy inspired people to line up and join causes to benefit masses of people; he didn't just follow the directions of a team of business people. And John F. Kennedy worked desperately in a desperate situation to avoid a war, not start one. There have been some successful attempts to dramatize the days in 1962 when America nearly went to war. Recently, Kevin Costner plays an adviser to the president in 13 Days . But a made for television short series (mid 1970's) called Missiles Of October is a more compelling behind-the-scenes look at what the president and staff were facing at the time. Now there is another account, a documentary featuring a former espionage agent, which provides greater details than the Hollywood versions. 13 Days In October - The Cuban Missile Crises shows us just how close we came to a nuclear war, or WWIII. So times have changed, and the world has too. Ideals, integrity, intelligence, eloquence, wisdom - these are qualities that are not highly valued by many people, at least not publicly. They are qualities that are not often found in today's leaders, and not at all in some. If youngsters seek role models today, they find a completely different breed than when I was a child. It is not surprising that fewer people talk today about serving society or working to make things better for other people in the world. So where can I go with this tribute to a fallen hero of the past? The tragedy of November 22, 1963 was not just a tragedy for the United States; it was a tragedy for the whole world. Everything changed on that day. The world we are in today is not the world Kennedy envisioned in his ideals - but I think many people wish that it was. Too often we hear that we can not turn back in time, but I think that many people wish we could - not to be younger and avoid the mistakes we made, but to revive the qualities and values we once had. Remembering John F. Kennedy, the man, his times, and his accomplishments at least revives memories of what once was and could be. If more people, especially young people, looked back at John F. Kennedy, they would be inspired, as we once were, to head their lives and this world in a direction that is constructive; where people serve to make it a better world, not just serve themselves; where wars and conflicts are avoided, not advocated. We are left to wonder where we would be today if John F. Kennedy had not been killed. Well, who knows? That's the perspective from this side of the world. Later, Jerry P.S. A nice tradition was started a few hundred years ago when European settlers and natives of the "New World" got together to celebrate a harvest, and be grateful for it. To all those who are living in the U.S., I hope you will enjoy getting together again with Native Americans this Thursday, and have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!! Kennedy's death can be partly blamed for what the world has become since. We deserve to know the circumstances of his death, and why he died. Evidence of conspiracy is promoted in Oliver Stone's "JFK" . There is also a less known documentary of a man who claims to have been involved in the assassination. JFK - Confessions of an Assassin has been studied by experts who have said that the assassin's account is very detailed and consistent with other known facts, making him very believable. Yet there is room for skepticism. Something New and Exciting for the coming Season !! John F. Kennedy said that the only reason he was a war hero was "They sank my boat." He got to see the Hollywood production of PT 109 (with Cliff Robertson) . But no one has seen this yet: The Search For Kennedy's Lost Ship - PT 109 . To be released December 17. You can get the jump on the season's crowd, and order it now, but only if you Order Here  A list of Special Links from this edition: http://www.ccipowertracker.com/cci/1265 4 Days in November http://www.ccipowertracker.com/cci/1266 13 Days (Kevin Costner) http://www.ccipowertracker.com/cci/1267 Missiles of October http://www.ccipowertracker.com/cci/1268 13 Days in October http://www.ccipowertracker.com/cci/1269 JFK (Oliver Stone) http://www.ccipowertracker.com/cci/1270 Confessions of an Assassin http://www.ccipowertracker.com/cci/1271 PT 109 (the Movie) http://www.ccipowertracker.com/cci/1272 Search for Kennedy's Lost Ship (NEW!) http://www.ccipowertracker.com/cci/1273 Profiles in Courage (1957 Pulitzer Prize) http://www.ccipowertracker.com/cci/1274 Assassination Science - Experts Speak Out on the Death of JFK |