Too much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross national product, now, is over $800 billion a year, but the GNP - if we should judge America by that - counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and jails for those who break them. It counts the destruction of our redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead...and the television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children. Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage...it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile. And it can tell us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans.
- RFK, speech at University of Kansas, March 18, 1968
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4 comments:
I have a friend who is a very,very,very wealthy person.he lives aroud 60 miles from easton.One day I was at his home and he took me to a small town near his home and he introduced me 2 a childhood friend who had just won 3 million dollars in the pa lottery.with the winnings he was going 2 build a home 4 his newlywed daughter on a lot that he owned.I asked him what it will cost him,and he said I am going 2 pay 4 the materials.I asked him how much it will cost 2 build the home,and both of them looked at me strange and said it won't cost anything 2 BUILD,the home.All the neighbors get involved in the building of the home and when it is done they will have a picnic and the building costs r paid in full.such a beautiful way of life.In lifes long maze we've lost that glow[bey].tunsie.tunsie.tunsie
What was the "violent tv shows" exploting children to sell toys in '68? Lost in Space? Rawhide? Gomer Pyle USMC? Laugh In?
Imagine if they had the Jump the shark season of 24 (The last season yea far)then?
I'm no Obama Maniac, nor did I care for Hillary the embellisher.
But I laugh when people say they have yet to hear any real ideas from Obama and then say Oh if RFK had lived.
If one dosn't belive Obama will bring change why did they think a Kennedy would have? Considering he with big bro John were rabid union busters, and worked in the McCarthy hearings.
Just food for thought.
Clearly, the "violent show" must have been "The Monkees."
I'm not the biggest Kennedy fan, Spike, but I do like this speech. And I will say that, based on everything I've read, the RFK who ran for President was very different from the RFK who was Attorney General. Not only did his brother's assassination change him, the times changed him. Who knows what kind of President he would have been? I'm more interested in finding out what kind of President Obama will be.
Well if Obama ants my vote he needs to adapt the edwards Healthcare plan, and take a real stance on labor and corporate corruption.
If Septemebr through late October become a I'm like the GOP too (what Kerry did in 2004) I'll be forced to vote Nader. AGAIN.
lol and why are these nuts for Clinton screaming they would rather vote McCain than Obama. Wouldn't Nader represent them better? I mean they are Dems right?
And yes RFK gave a great speech there.
As did his brother at his ignaguration.
The right loves the Ask not.......
but forgets "let us not negiotiate out of fear with our enemies. But let us not fear to negotiate." or words to that effect.
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