Analysis Of John Fitzgerald Kennedy's Speech

Ever since the establishment of America, great men have instilled wisdom to the future generations. Over the course of various time periods, different men of all backgrounds have come out to speak against the evils and injustices in society. Among these men include Martin Luther King, Jr., a Civil Rights Leader in the 1950s; John Fitzgerald Kennedy, president of the United States during the Cold War; and Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States during the Civil War. All three men have written scores of speeches concentrating on human equality and the rights of individuals. Martin Luther King, Jr., John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and Abraham Lincoln suggest that mankind should live in unity because the cooperation between peoples will help a nation stand strong. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Civil Rights Activist of the 1950s, delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 to advocate for equal rights for all ethnicities and to convey the message that unity is essential to the strength of society. Martin Luther King, Jr. starts his speech by uniting the audience under a similar belief that, “all men would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness” (King). Because he recognizes that every single person is equal, King emphasizes that people of all races must stand together to create a strong nation. He states that separate ideologies will create tensions between opposing sides and thus break apart the nation, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred…The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone” (King). He connects people by revealing his dream for a united country to emphasize the strength of a undivided state, “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (King). King illustrates that by uniting the country together, “we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood” (King). The cooperation of all people in a nation can lead to a more successful and stronger nation. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth president of the United States during the Cold War (1961-1963), delivered his Inaugural Address on January 20, 1961 to illustrate that the unity and cooperation of peoples can create a stronger nation. Kennedy connects the audience by stating that all men have rights, “the rights of man come not from the generosity of that state, but from the hand of God” (Kennedy). By demonstrating that all men are equals, Kennedy describes how the harms of division can affect America adversely while cooperation will benefit America, “United, there is little we cannot do in a host of new cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do—for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder” (Kennedy). He extends his unity to not only America but also to the rest of the world, “Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere,” (Kennedy). Kennedy wishes to pacify his opposing sides to create unity instead of division, “Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms—and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of it terror. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce. Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth and command of Isaiah—to ‘undo the heavy burdens…[and] let the oppressed go free’” (Kennedy). Kennedy emphasizes that a strong nation is one that stays united rather than divided. The Civil War of America broke apart the American nation, but the sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, sought to reunite the nation to create a more peaceful and stronger society through his speech, “The Gettysburg Address.” Lincoln begins by connecting the American citizens under the belief that their nation is, “conceived in liberty, and [is] dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” (Lincoln). Lincoln disproves of the Civil War which divided America into the Union and the Confederates, “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure […] But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground.” Lincoln declares that by uniting the country, society will be allowed to continue more prosperously instead of in tension and in vain, “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth” (Lincoln). Lincoln depicts how division within a country can create negative effects on society, but emphasizes how a united country can create a society that will continue for generations. The speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and Abraham Lincoln all portray that division within a nation will lead to the downfall of society, while the unity of a country will allow a nation to stand strong.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s Inaugural Address best relates to current day 2016 in that it emphasizes on how we must keep good connections with our opponents and allies. For instance, the threat of ISIS affects many countries but by uniting allies together to oppose the aggression of ISIS and by negotiating with adversaries, we can formulate a more united world to ensure a more peaceful and stronger society. Unity is essential in guaranteeing that a nation will continue to thrive, however division will only create antagonistic tensions that can threaten to tear the nation
apart.