On June 10, 1963 President Kennedy gave the commencement address at the recently formed American University in Washington D.C. Many believe that it was one, if not, his finest speech.
What is remarkable is that given all that has unfolded over these past fifty years, this talk is as timely today as it was then. Perhaps more-so! He implored us to examine our own attitude towards peace and not from some esoteric perspective but from a very real and personal perspective.
First: Examine our attitude towards peace itself. Too many of us think it is impossible. Too many think it is 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 man-made. 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.. – John F. Kennedy
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