After a rousing banter with new friend, Rick Houston (come on man, you know you want to except my friend request ;))...this excerpt out of a JFK speech feels perfectly appropriate. Enjoy your Monday folks Behind the storm of daily conflict and crisis, the dramatic confrontations, the tumult of political struggle, the poet, the artist, the musician, continues the quiet work of centuries, building bridges of experience between peoples, reminding man of the universality of his feelings and desires and despairs, and reminding him that the forces that unite are deeper than those that divide. Thus, art and the encouragement of art is political in the most profound sense, not as a weapon in the struggle, but as an instrument of understanding of the futility of struggle between those who share mans faith. Aeschylus and Plato are remembered today long after the triumphs of imperial Athens are gone. Dante outlived the ambitions of 13th century Florence. Goethe stands serenely above the politics of Germany, and I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit. It was Pericles proudest boast that politically Athens was the school of Hellas. If we can make our country one of the great schools of civilization, then on that achievement will surely rest our claim to the ultimate gratitude of mankind. Moreover, as a great democratic society, we have a special responsibility to the arts, for art is the great democrat calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color. The mere accumulation of wealth and power is available to the dictator and the democrat alike. What freedom alone can bring is the liberation of the human mind and spirit which finds its greatest flowering in the free society. Thus, in our fulfillment of these responsibilities toward the arts lie our unique achievement as a free society. Thank you. ~ Remarks by JFK from a Close & Circuit Television Broadcast on Behalf of the National Cultural Center. November 29, 1962
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 21:30:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015