08-01-2012, 03:19 PM
Ed Jewett Wrote:I do, however, disagree with your idea that that perception diminishes those who hold it, and that it diminishes a man who was -- however excellent, loved and even revered he is and was by many -- a mortal and flawed man (aren't we all?!).
But he believed in redemption, and worked toward it. As do we.
Agreed, Ed, regarding how enlightenment emerges from caring disagreement.
Alas, I was less than artful in writing, "We dare not try to turn JFK into a secret society conspiracy theorist. To do so diminishes him and us."
My points are simply this:
1. JFK's spiritual evolution and growing political awareness, unlike our own, were neither inspired nor informed by the single historic event that most powerfully drives our own maturation as deep political scientists: JFK's murder.
2. JFK's greatness does not depend upon our demonstrating that somehow he was aware of secret societies/alliances that govern us. Had he come to understand that, as RFK said later (I'm paraphrasing), the world works in ways he never previously imagined? I don't know, but in the speech in question I see no evidence that he did.
3. In claiming otherwise we're needlessly grasping at straws -- even as we give the enemy another reason to lampoon JFK and/or us. Can't you see the headline: "Conspiracy Theorists Try to Enlist JFK in Their Cause"?
But by all means argue on. I love to be proven wrong.