Cleveland City Club

 

Robert Francis Kennedy and campaigners in 1968

A brief history of political discourse in America:

1860s

"In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed.  There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one."

1930s

"We have nothing to fear but fear itself."

1960s

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

2020

"Nyaeh  nyaeh  nyaeh  nyaeh  nyaeh."

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------------ [excerpts] ----------- Whenever any American's life is taken by another American unnecessarily -- whether it is done in the name of the law or in the defiance of law, by one man or a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence -- whenever we tear at the fabric of life which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his children, the whole nation is degraded....

     Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike.  We calmly accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter in far off lands.  

We glorify killing on movie and television screens and call it entertainment.  We make it easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire weapons and ammunition they desire.

     Too often we honor swagger and bluster and the wielders of force; too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of others. 

Some Americans who preach nonviolence abroad fail to practice it here at home.  Some who accuse others of inciting riots have by their own conduct invited them....

------------------ [excerpts from a speech given by Robert F. Kennedy at the Cleveland City Club on April 5th, 1968]

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     On Netflix now is a film titled Bobby Kennedy For President.  It gives good information and background, and is interesting to watch and listen to.

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