I was 16 in 1963 and my life revolved around what most kids my age were thinking; the game and the dance on friday, homework, and my friends. Life was pretty good and yet scary. Good because we were full of ideals, adventure and youth. We had a president that was young and vibrant, strong and charismatic and even though I lived in a very conservative city...we had all caught the fever that this country could achieve anything...that we could achieve everything! And yet it was not the Camelot it later became known as because the country was in turmoil over civil rights and Vietnam and communism. We had lived through threats of nuclear war, and the failed invasion of the bay of pigs.....but we were Americans and we would prevail! I was 16 that November 23rd day of 1963...I was in biology cutting up a frog when my world..our world forever changed! Almost to a person in our city we were Republicans, but on that day we WERE AMERICANS and our hearts were broken! Students and teachers stopped what we were doing and moved to the commons areas and tvs were brought in and we held each other..teachers, students, custodians..and for days..no months we moved as if in shock over our loss...angry that this man...this president ...this leader who ...even though flawed...has given us so much hope...so much promise..had been so cruelly taken from us. So today when I hear folks speak so casually about hating their government and their president...and its people separated over issues that tear at the very fabric of this countries purpose I am sickened...heartsick at the rows upon rows upon rows of young men, women and a president who gave their lives so that those hopes and dreams and promises of future generations could be achieved.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 04:43:48 +0000
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