CALLING HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS!
The latest revelation about the NSA’s secret programs turns out to be a 29 year old government contractor who had Security Clearance. Just a few months on the job, Snowden released vital national security information to the world because he felt it wasn’t right for Americans to have that information monitored and didn’t think it was right. His education as a high school drop out and his world experience probably gave him the credentials to make the decision. This decision in effect gives the terrorists an insight into what we do. Some are calling him a hero of free speech, others an attention seeking traitor. I just think the guy is an ass and knows nothing about the real world and the job he has. Too many contractors give jobs to unqualified people who might know a keyboard but have no idea of the responsibility of the job they hold. And please, save this garbage about freedom of speech. He goes to that bastion of free speech and political dissent, Hong Kong to make his case! Try him as a spy and give him life. And if you have a kid that is currently toiling in a college and getting in debt for a 9 dollar an hour job in Wilkes Barre, tell him to bag it and go the Snowden route.
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1963
This week was a big week in terms of news events for the year 1963. It began with President Kennedy delivering his American University commencement address. Dubbed “A Strategy of Peace”, the speech has been heralded as one of the most significant speeches Kennedy ever gave.
In the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy called for a saner way for the world partners to work with one another. Here are some important quotes:
"First examine our attitude towards peace itself. Too many of us think it is impossible. Too many think it is unreal. But that is a dangerous, defeatist belief. It leads to the conclusion that war is inevitable, that mankind is doomed, that we are gripped by forces we cannot control. We need not accept that view. Our problems are man made; therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings."
"For in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's futures. And we are all mortal."
"It is our hope— and the purpose of allied policies—to convince the Soviet Union that she, too, should let each nation choose its own future, so long as that choice does not interfere with the choices of others. The Communist drive to impose their political and economic system on others is the primary cause of world tension today. For there can be no doubt that, if all nations could refrain from interfering in the self-determination of others, the peace would be much more assured."
"I'm taking this opportunity, therefore, to announce two important decisions in this regard. First, Chairman Khrushchev, Prime Minister Macmillan, and I have agreed that high-level discussions will shortly begin in Moscow looking towards early agreement on a comprehensive test ban treaty. Our hope must be tempered—Our hopes must be tempered with the caution of history; but with our hopes go the hopes of all mankind. Second, to make clear our good faith and solemn convictions on this matter, I now declare that the United States does not propose to conduct nuclear tests in the atmosphere so long as other states do not do so. We will not—We will not be the first to resume."
"The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war. We do not want a war. We do not now expect a war. This generation of Americans has already had enough—more than enough—of war and hate and oppression."
A few weeks later, a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Agreement was signed. It was a first step toward insuring that there would never be a standoff lie the Cuban Missile Crisis again.
Alabama Governor George C. Wallace stood in the door of the University of Alabama to protest against integration, before stepping aside and allowing African Americans James Hood and Vivian Malone to enroll. Wallace took a stand but then backed down when the Justice Department sent federal Marshals to allow the students in...... A few days later, President John F. Kennedy went on TV to give a historic Civil Rights Address, in which he promises a Civil Rights Bill, and asks for "the kind of equality of treatment that we would want for ourselves.” The action by Kennedy was an affirmation that he would stake his political capitol on the passing of a strong, sweeping Civil Right Bill.
Then a few hours later, on the night of June 12th, Medgar Evers was murdered in Jackson, Mississippi. Evers was a Civil Rights Field Worker in segregated Mississippi. He constantly had death threats against him and was shot in the back as he came home from a meeting. His family knew the drill, if there were shots fired, the kids hid in the bathtub until police came. Evers was only 37 and his death caused more sympathy for the Civil Rights cause than the bigots could have imagined. He died just hours after the Kennedy Civil Rights speech. The juxtaposition of those two events galvanized support for the President’s bill.
His killer, a fertilizer salesman was arrested and then acquitted by an all white male jury. Finally in 1994 the non entity was retried and convicted after Evers’ body was exhumed. Evers was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors and 3,000 people attending. His killer died alone in prison at the age of 80 in 2001. And fifty years ago this week the number 1 song in America and LuLac land was “Surfin’ USA” by the Beach Boys.