JFK
It was late morning and I was on my way to a chemistry class. I had stopped for a drink of water when the news came over the speakers in the classrooms.
For those who weren’t alive at the time: remember what you felt on September 11, 2001 for a taste of November 22, 1963. It was a massive change for the worldview of my generation and it marked the beginning of a period of disruption and decline in the civility of American society.
Having another Massachusetts Catholic senator with the initials JFK running for President this year was unsettling.
At his inauguration John Kennedy made the point: If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”
The colors of my world will never be as bright as they were on November 21, 1963.
2 comments
Ouch; it all comes back.
I was in junior high school; algebra class taught by a very gruff, retired colonel. The principal’s voice came over the loudspeaker, then they played the radio broadcast.
Everyone was totally stunned, most weeping – including that gruff old colonel.
The feeling of “what now?” was identical to Sept. 11th.
The Massachusetts Catholic with the initials “JFK” was definitely a bit unsettling. In my mind, there is and will always be only one JFK.
Bryan,
Nice place you got here. I couldn’t find an email address where I could send a personal thanks for blogrolling me, so here will have to do.
Take care and good luck!
-Scaramouche