He's No Jack Kennedy. . .

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead
of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer
the deserts,eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths,
and encourage the arts and commerce.

--JFK Inaugural Speech (1/61)


One day President Roosevelt told me that he was asking
publicly for suggestions about what the war [WW II] should
be called.

I said at once, 'The Unnecessary War."

--Winston Churchill


"Good heavens Miss Sakamoto - you're beautiful!"
I -I don't believe it!

She blinded me with science,
And failed me in biology

--She Blinded me with Science, Thomas Dolby

________

Listening recently to Creedence Clearwater Revival's I saw it on TV, Ranger had a flash.

Back to that generation-defining moment: It was in Religion class, at 1410 hours, on 22 November 63, President Kennedy was blasted into history. At least that's when we received the news, and classes were dismissed.

And I began thinking of the differences between Kennedy and GWB, differences which could fill several books, but two of which seem especially noteworthy.

First, Kennedy knew that Texas was hostile territory, and that Texans shoot people, but he went to Texas to prove that he was President of all of America, and not merely the Northeast. His actions were designed with the goal of reinvigorating the Democratic Party with the national framework.

Imagine the physical and moral courage involved in undertaking this foray into a hostile and strange political scene. Kennedy was willing to confront the Southern Texas delegation on their home turf, and he did so on the moral authority of the presidency.

Switch to now: GWB won't even throw out the first ball in a pro baseball game. He doesn't have the guts to face the nation in anything except scripted, closed scenarios. Yeah, this is Churchillian, and my ass is pretty.

During the 9-11 attacks, GWB hid in an undisclosed location. And of course, it's impossible to clearly delineate his actions during the national crisis because the official story of his actions has been revised at least eight times. And of course, Kennedy had a Navy and Marine Corps Medal for valor in combat with a hostile force, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WW II Victory medal, in addition to a Purple Heart.

But of course, in today's America, the cited actions would be Swiftboated --denigrated in order to elevate GWB to maximum leader status.

The second disjunction is in the area of science. Kennedy, like Bush, was a religious man, yet this did not negate his belief in and reliance upon scientific principles.

Kennedy ramped up the Maths and Sciences programs in schools, and his increased focus on scientific exploration eventually landed a man on the moon, and brought him back to earth. This was a Mission Accomplished moment. The eagle had truly landed, gently and triumphantly.

Kennedy never allowed his religious beliefs to guide U.S. national policy on any meaningful level. Contrast this with GWB's politicization and institutionalization of religion throughout the federal government. Even soldiers bang the bible these days to earn promotions. (Though it doesn't guarantee you'll have staying power--goodbye to you, Peter Pace.)

Would Kennedy have banned scientific stem cell research on flimsy moral grounds? In such a progress-oriented culture, it seems unlikely.

It is only in our newly insular, frightened, fund-strapped America that research seemingly beneficial to society would be viewed with suspicion. Science that benefits man should not be restricted by federal insularity. Wilkommen to the New America!

Personal integrity and a commitment to progress for the benefit of all mankind--two qualities lacking at the helm.

It is unlikely that Kennedy would recognize this mess that passes today for America.