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In reply to the discussion: This is a time of shame and sorrow. It is not a day for politics. [View all]NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)98. President Clinton: Speech at the 25th Anniversary Memorial Mass for Robert F. Kennedy (June 6, 1993)
Well worth the read, I'm posting a few choice lines below, emphasis is mine.
The full transcript is here: http://millercenter.org/president/speeches/detail/4565
...As I looked around this crowd today and saw us all graced not only by the laughter of children but by the tears of those of us old enough to remember, it struck me again that the memory of Robert Kennedy is so powerful that in a profound way we are all in two places today. We are here and now, and we are there, then.
snip
He spoke out against neglect, but he challenged the neglected to seize their own destiny. He wanted so badly for Government to act, but he did not trust bureaucracy. And he believed that Government had to do things with people, not for them. He knew we had to do things together or not at all. He spoke to the sons and daughters of immigrants and the sons and daughters of sharecroppers and told them all, "As long as you stay apart from each other, you will never be what you ought to be."
He saw the word not in terms of right and left but right and wrong. And he taught us lessons that cannot be labeled except as powerful proof. Robert Kennedy reminded us that on any day, in any place, at any time, racism is wrong, exploitation is wrong, violence is wrong, anything that denies the simple humanity and potential of any man or woman is wrong.
snip
If you listen now you can hear with me his voice telling me and telling you and telling everyone here, "We can do better." Today's troubles call us to do better. The legacy of Robert Kennedy is a stem rebuke to the cynicism, to the trivialization that grips so much of our public life today. What use is it in the face of the aching problems gripping millions of Americans, the American without a job, the American without health care, the American without a safe street to live on or a good school to send a child to? What use is it in the face of all the divisions that keep our country down and rob our children of their rightful future?
Let us learn here once again the simple, powerful, beautiful lesson, the simple faith of Robert Kennedy: We can do better. Let us leave here no longer in two places, but once again in one only: in the here and now, with a commitment to tomorrow, the only part of our time that we can control. Let us embrace the memory of Robert Kennedy by living as he would have us to live. For the sake of his memory, of ourselves, and of all of our children and all those to come, let us believe again, we can do better.
snip
He spoke out against neglect, but he challenged the neglected to seize their own destiny. He wanted so badly for Government to act, but he did not trust bureaucracy. And he believed that Government had to do things with people, not for them. He knew we had to do things together or not at all. He spoke to the sons and daughters of immigrants and the sons and daughters of sharecroppers and told them all, "As long as you stay apart from each other, you will never be what you ought to be."
He saw the word not in terms of right and left but right and wrong. And he taught us lessons that cannot be labeled except as powerful proof. Robert Kennedy reminded us that on any day, in any place, at any time, racism is wrong, exploitation is wrong, violence is wrong, anything that denies the simple humanity and potential of any man or woman is wrong.
snip
If you listen now you can hear with me his voice telling me and telling you and telling everyone here, "We can do better." Today's troubles call us to do better. The legacy of Robert Kennedy is a stem rebuke to the cynicism, to the trivialization that grips so much of our public life today. What use is it in the face of the aching problems gripping millions of Americans, the American without a job, the American without health care, the American without a safe street to live on or a good school to send a child to? What use is it in the face of all the divisions that keep our country down and rob our children of their rightful future?
Let us learn here once again the simple, powerful, beautiful lesson, the simple faith of Robert Kennedy: We can do better. Let us leave here no longer in two places, but once again in one only: in the here and now, with a commitment to tomorrow, the only part of our time that we can control. Let us embrace the memory of Robert Kennedy by living as he would have us to live. For the sake of his memory, of ourselves, and of all of our children and all those to come, let us believe again, we can do better.
The man was, quite simply, transcendent.
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I miss Bobby Kennedy more than Martin or John. He was the hope my generation held so closely.
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#15
I was only twelve years old, but I did get to see him on his tour through California.
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#93
Agreed, calimary. What is it about our culture that makes people want to be so violent.
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#18
No argument here. We owe it to our children to consider every possible cause of violent behavior.
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#8
Correlation does not imply causation. More violence is perpetrated by men, who are raised
jtuck004
Sep 2013
#9
This is a very interesting topic. I agree that more research on it needs to be done.
totodeinhere
Sep 2013
#83
The study cited in your article is interesting, makes me wonder about a solution...
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#115
Bobby Kennedy was particularly skillful in building consensus and staying on point.
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#12
And using a picture of the kids in Newtown, to make an anti-gun control point, apparently.
Warren DeMontague
Sep 2013
#37
Are you going to answer Robb's point? About, say, the shotun thread 2 days after Newtown?
Warren DeMontague
Sep 2013
#40
You copied the OP except for the references to gun control, which you removed as "unnecessary"
Warren DeMontague
Sep 2013
#57
Your selective editing is political, in addition to being disgusting and dishonest. nt
Electric Monk
Sep 2013
#21
" Surely, this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something."
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#46
Sadly, that does not seem to be the issue tonight. I've got better things to do. (Warning: Kitteh!)
freshwest
Sep 2013
#79
Anyone can read the original, even if not logged in. Only gun nuts are blocked from replying there.
Electric Monk
Sep 2013
#34
I followed the link and find the situation very puzzling and disturbing. Totally unexpected.
IrishAyes
Sep 2013
#32
Take full note that my compliment has been withdrawn as the hypocrisy of your behavior
IrishAyes
Sep 2013
#112
Edit the OP, with credit and show his OP in a different font than your additions. No problem then.
freshwest
Sep 2013
#51
Allow me to add this additional section which certainly applies to our current society:
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#70
I'm seeing one link that does not show that; it appears to be valid; is there a full transcript.
freshwest
Sep 2013
#80
Adding Audio Clip and Transcript: In his own words, "On the Mindless Menace of Violence in America.
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#76
Yes, thanks. The general well being of our nation is at stake here. K&R
Tuesday Afternoon
Sep 2013
#77
Possibly, you're thinking of the Indianapolis speech he gave on the day of the assassination.
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#84
RFK was a visionary, he was transcendent, the best of that generation. Standing on a flat-bed truck
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#103
Violence Has Killed Society In America - The Road To Redemption Will Be Difficult At Best
cantbeserious
Sep 2013
#85
New measures that would include more restrictions on the ownership of deadly weapons...
YoungDemCA
Sep 2013
#90
What you've done is get your licks in and then tell others to shut up and swallow it.
IrishAyes
Sep 2013
#111
President Clinton: Speech at the 25th Anniversary Memorial Mass for Robert F. Kennedy (June 6, 1993)
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#98
REMARKABLE: "Landmark for Peace Memorial", Indianapolis, on site of RFK's speech"
NYC_SKP
Sep 2013
#113