Think
R F K
Contributed By Eveonne Melanie Ignash April 28, 2008
It was the early hours of June 5, 1968, an election year and that morning, America was robbed of a great leader. This leader was Robert F. Kennedy. That assassination will meet its fortieth anniversary this June. What can we as a country say has really changed?
In this article I wish to discuss what Kennedy strove to fix and compare it to current events. Has America come as far as we think in forty years, or did the seeds of change go dormant when the shots rang out in the back kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel?
“I have traveled and I have listened to the young people of our nation and felt their anger about the war that they are sent to fight and about the world they are about to inherit.” Robert F. Kennedy (RFK)
War is unfortunately something that all of us have grown accustomed: whether it be hearing the word, seeing images of destruction in the news or being directly affected by the violence that is going on so far away. Many felt we had no purpose being in Vietnam in 1968. Now we see similar sentiments about the war in Iraq. An Integrative Social Science Professor here at Michigan State, Dr. Cyrus Stewart suggests, “there are many pieces of information we do not have access to.” However, he does also say that, “war now, is a situation of first resort. Diplomatic solutions are no longer exhausted.” Between the years of 1965 and 1973 roughly 58,000 Americans lost their lives in Vietnam. From March 19, 2003, the first day we entered Iraq, to April 12, 2008, 4,033 Americans have lost their lives. We have occupied Iraq less time than Vietnam and not as many lives have been lost, but forty years later our country is found in a similar situation. Our young people are still angry about “the war that they are sent to fight.”
“The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are, most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one, no matter where he lives or what he does, can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on in this country of ours.” RFK
Violence is another common occurrence in our country’s society. “America has always been violent but today children shoot each other for things we would have tousled on the playground for,” says Stewart. If you search online for remarks by the Presidential Candidates today about any of the university shootings, you do not find much. There are statements in support of the families and the schools. There is talk of second amendment rights; however, there were no remarks found on how the spread of this useless violence needs to stop. From Northern Illinois University, to Virginia Tech, to Delaware State University, the anger, the hopelessness, and the violence has only continued. Where is the voice standing up against such atrocities?
“At stake is not simply the leadership of our party and even our country. It is our right to moral leadership of this planet.” RFK
Leadership, what is leadership? Are the current and possible future leaders capable of doing what needs to be done for the United States? In the past forty years the unemployment rates have gone from 3.4% to 5% of the population without jobs. The number of children below the poverty line has also increased from 15.3% to 17.1% according to census data. Violence on our campuses has also dramatically increased. It started at Columbine and I am saddened to say this generation has only carried the fear and aggression to its college campuses. Dr. Stewart speaks of Robert F. Kennedy saying, when he died, “a great impact was lost. It was like I lost my brother. There is less substance in politics today and the students are less involved.” Dr. Stewart is unique in that he was here at MSU as a graduate student in 1968 and now is a professor. He tells a story of how different the student population is by what inspires them to demonstrate. A few years ago Munn Ice arena parking lot was closed to tailgating during football games. “The students who used to drink there were so upset they protested. In 1968,” says Stewart, “they protested Vietnam.” Now is that a lack of political conviction in today’s students or just an overall sense that protesting such an issue may be a lost cause at this point?
These are just a few of the issues addressed by Robert Kennedy that still deeply affect our country today. This raises a question: Had Robert F. Kennedy lived, would the world, as we know it, be different? Kennedy’s passion, lead him to seek change in the government and society that others only dream about. If that passion existed in the hearts of present leaders, the change that Americans yearn for may actually come true.
“Some see things and say, why. I dream of things that never were and say, why not.” Robert F. Kennedy
If you would like to comment on this article or simply add on to this thought please e-mail think@thinkbailey.com.
Past Think articles
- Where’s the challenge in Bailey? Contributed By Howard Person April 8, 2008
- See for Yourself Contributed By Brett Kopf Dec. 4, 2007
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