Fifty years ago President John Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas. He had a bold vision for America. He pictured the US as a kind of Camelot. “Dont let it be forgot That once there was a spot, For one brief, shining moment That was known as Camelot.” Kennedy also called the US a shining city on a hill, an image that Ronald Regan was also to use. But not everyone enjoyed the same vision. What got lost in the image of Camelot is just how many enemies Kennedy had, and how deep their hatred ran. He was especially hated among the right wingers. They accused him of treason. His treasonous acts included failure to send support to back up the doomed invaders at the Bay of Pigs. He negotiated with Russia over the Cuban missile crisis instead of just declaring war. He supported civil rights for black people. He removed General Walker from the military because he was spreading right wing philosophy within the ranks. In addition he was believed to be hated by the mob, because Robert was cracking down. Kennedy was hated by the oil men of Texas because he wanted to eliminate their special tax breaks. Much of the hate focused itself in Texas. Kennedy was advised that it could be dangerous to go to Texas because of their right wing fanaticism. When Kennedy was shot, and the shooting was blamed on someone with Communist ties, many found it easy to believe Oswald’s plea that he was a patsy, set-up. So open was the right wing hatred that many could not accept that the order had not come from the right. Except for the shooting part, it makes today’s news seem like déjà vu all over again. The names change, the details change but people don’t. We have probably never had a time when there was not an opposition to those in power. And there will always be some who desire power so much that they will advocate for overthrow and violence to advance their cause. The founding fathers devised a system that has kept us safe from those who would usurp power for 226 years. God bless America.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 20:04:41 +0000