JFK Understood the Tea Party
More than fifty years later, Americans are heeding his call to citizenship
“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger.” These words from a speech given 51 years ago should be pondered by all Americans living today. They could well have been said about us.
In his short Inaugural Address, John F. Kennedy acknowledged the “revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought…the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.” He vowed that this new generation of Americans, heirs of that first revolution would be unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed. No sacrifice for the protections of liberty would ever be too great for our nation.
While the eyes of the world were upon him, he spoke of our adversaries and said: “We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.”
The responsibility for the final success or failure of this course, Kennedy asserts, rests in the hands of his fellow citizens because they, like all generations of Americans, are summoned to give testimony to their national loyalty. To refine the substance of his message, the young President delivered his most famous words: “…ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
President Kennedy’s appeal to his countrymen echoes across the chasm of history. Our freedom is indeed in its hour of maximum danger – precisely because generations born since that day have turned a blind eye to the slow undoing of the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. They have elected leaders who unwisely soften our superior military strength, refuse to develop our own natural resources, and assume a weak posture in a menacing world.
Since that cold January day when JFK delivered his Inaugural Address, we have been demoralized by the continual depiction of America as a nation of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. We’ve been manipulated by political gamesmanship and class envy until our government has ceased to be the guardian of our unalienable rights, but rather, the grantor of them.
The framework of limited government established on our shores so long ago is now morbidly fleshed out and nearing collapse. A once independent people, we have become a people in dependence. In a technological age where citizens have no secrets, the government grows increasingly vague and intrusive.
Government that was founded to be close to the People seems now to be closed to the people.
President Kennedy was correct: the responsibility for the success or failure of our course does rest in our hands. We are the heirs of that first revolution as well as beneficiaries of all the wars of preservation since. As such, we have been derelict in our duties. If Americans hope to unravel the shroud of dependency and reclaim their representative Republic, they must hold themselves to the same standard of accountability that they expect from those elected to public office.
The past three years have witnessed a groundswell of average citizens awakening to that fact. Citizens – call them “TEA Partiers” – who see government at all levels behaving in ways that are simply un-American are becoming engaged in the process of self-governance because they wish to live free.
Yes, it’s difficult to take time from our busy lives to monitor the actions of government, primarily because there is so much government to monitor. But the truth is, we have no other choice. I will lay down my life so my children will have freedom, but I will not lay down their freedom so I can have a life.
America’s greatness lies in her indomitable people who are now asking what they can do for their country.
