JFK and Thanksgiving: 44 Years Later

Thanksgiving this year falls on the anniversary of the assassination John Fitzgerald Kennedy. It was forty-four years ago in Dallas that the direction of this country was irrevocably changed. Changed for the worse. There have been brief periods of hope only to have the downward spiral continue in even steeper rushes to oblivion.

The details of those intervening years matter little. Discussions about those details only serve as a distraction about the real issues of the day. The vast majority of Americans will spend the next two days concerned about gluttony and greed, and the powers in charge couldn't be more delighted. We were running "duck and cover" drills in the years around JFK's killing. Today we have a corrupt war criminal playing games with nuclear war to further line the pockets of the rich. We seem to be running headlong and willingly to World War III.

Three instances of this insanity: One—we invaded a sovereign nation under false pretensions. Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction and had no connection with the 9/11 attacks. Two—the same rhetoric is being used about Iran. Diplomacy isn't even considered an option. Three—"one of our strongest allies in the War on Terror" is a military fascist regime with known and flaunted nuclear capability. This is Pakistan for those not paying attention.

Dissent is now considered unpatriotic and treasonous. Last week on "Fox and Friends" it was openly suggested that the next time members of Code Pink dared to speak out or even show passive silent dissent that "a Tazing would be in order" and "when will these women learn no one cares what they think." I find myself feeling just as helpless about the situation we are in today as I felt about the killing of JFK then.

Code Pink and those on the front line of dissent are about the only things I can feel thankful. I find the majority of politicians, both Republicans and Democrats, to be responsive only to dollars not to the will of the people. I hold little hope that by next Thanksgiving there will be any drastic improvement and have genuine fears of an openly fascist America and/or World War III being fought. Part of being a Proud Liberal is a general optimism that I no longer have the strength to feel. As a small voice in this mess, I will repeat the five positive steps I suggested in my last Blog entry.

1. – Never refer to the Bush administration with deference. They are war criminals and need to be referred to as such.

2. – Resist at all opportunities the occupation of Iraq. Tell your local Congress critters that their continued support for the occupation makes them accomplices in murder. By any legal definition of murder, accomplices are just as guilty as the main perpetrators.

3. – When engaging in discussion with the opposition, do NOT let them define the parameters and terms of the discussion. Remember the great lesson of Orwell's 1984 was that whoever defines the language has already won the argument.

4. – Wear a black armband of mourning. This is especially effective as people are always sympathetic and solicitous. When they ask what or whom you are in mourning for respond, "Are you sure you want to know?" Most will say of course and respond that you are mourning the Constitution and the rule of law; that both are in their death throes because of the criminals currently in charge.

5. – Insist that the best candidate be the one you support not just the one that can win. Elections are not horse races and the bandwagon effect has been a determent to the entire process. Remember the members of Democratic Leadership Conference (DLC) are just Republicans that have labeled themselves Democrats. The 40 percent that voted for McGovern were vindicated in the end when Nixon was finally caught.

These might not accomplish anything. To do nothing is tacit approval of the war crimes being committed in our names. We as patriotic Americans can not remain silent or complacent unless we want to become the "new Germans" of the twenty-first century.


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Wonderful editorial, APL, and thank you for writing it and posting it here. I must say that it's evident that you've spoken from your heart, your mind, and from your very soul. I appreciate your opinion, and completely agree with it.

I thought of the JFK connection to the holiday when I awakened this morning. Yes, I agree that 11-22-1963 was the beginning of the end for America as you and knew it growing up. Can you imagine what JFK would say about the regime that is in charge of the US today?

Amen. The coup d'etat of 2001 was a follow up tremmor to 1963. After that one reform of the Miliatary Industrial CONGRESSIONAL (remember Ike took this word out under pressure from Congress) Complex had become impossible to reform from within.

Beautifully and truthfully put APL. I would like to add comments to your 5 points that agree and expand on your points. I think we should use it as a basis for a sticky we all contribute to as our statement of beliefs about this war and the past 50 years we have witnessed. These children who have only barely remembered Reagan have no idea what the world was like before Ike said what he said and when the Bush's came to power. They actually think we are right about our world view and that it is OK to be the top dog, while stealing the wealth of the planet- as long as it guarantees we can be greedy and privileged, while others starve and die.

Like we're somehow exempt from all the horrors and reality of life.

Thanks Nathan for mentioning what Ike truly wanted to say- this completes another triple helix dilemma and throws the whole shooting match into the bundle. this is not DNA it's TNA- Trimilindicon-ribo'nuclear' Acid, and a real confusing future for America is born. I never knew that little tidbit of info- makes a difference when you look back- we would have been able to add congress as a threat to us long ago. I see why they wanted it removed.

Remind me to get back to this, and don't forget Afghanistan too!

Nice post, APL.