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To the editor:
America knows how to send a team of astronauts safely around the moon and back, but we don’t know how to elect law-abiding politicians to office.
Our political mantra today is, “it’s all good.” We no longer seem to believe there is actual evil in society or in our government.
Folks, divorce is not good. Gambling is not good. Pornography is not good. Political lying is not good. Crime is not good. War is not good. How have we managed to lose sight of all this?
Our problem is that parents, politicians and schools seem to have no idea how to teach democracy.
Teaching democracy requires that folks first understand law, political science and history. Our Founders had this kind of education, but today we are severely lacking in it.
Kimball Shinkoskey
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Valete
True political correctness involves recognizing President Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address, which encouraged Americans to focus on public service rather than personal gain. It asked them to “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country—translation, contribute to the country’s ideals through civic duty, service to others, and defending freedom.”
Wednesday, April 22 Report this
Admin
Long ago, Jimmy Breslin exposed the scam of the President Kennedy line that Word Man quotes. It's basically a politician saying don't ask what I can do for you, ask what you can do for me. But I am shocked that Shinkoskey, who tends to bat 1.000 with his letters, would equate divorce, gambling and pornography with political lying, crime and war. Divorce is better than living with a mistake. Gambling can be a problem for those who become addicted to it, but it is not something I would equate with crime. Much pornography is basically exceptionally sexy people who are lucky enough to get well paid to have *** with each other while many of us use it for great pleasure. Are their problems with some pornography? Even Larry Flynt said some of it is indefensible. But that's not a reason to make a blanket condemnation of all of it.
Wednesday, April 22 Report this
Valete
Jimmy Breslin’s 1964 article, titled “Still They Come to the Hillside,” was written after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. While the article didn’t explicitly criticize the phrase “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,” it subtly reframed it by emphasizing the ultimate example of service, which substantiates my initial post.
Thursday, April 23 Report this