Inspiring Words: Then and Now
Do we really care what Trump says?
By Kimboak Benham
September, 12, 1962, Rice University football stadium, Houston, Texas. Home of mission control. President Kennedy stood before the assembled, national space administration officials, the nation and the world, and boldly asserted an ambitious plan for the then near future of America’s space program.
We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too… ~ John F. Kennedy
August, 28, 1963, National Mall, Washington D.C. (Capitol City USA). Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood before the gathered mass of humanity and spoke of the future, of what could be, and foretold of how it one day might be if we did what was necessary. If we only let “Freedom Ring”.
And if America is to be a great nation (Yes), this must become true. So let freedom ring (Yes, Amen) from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. (Uh-huh) Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. (Yes, all right) Let freedom ring (Yes) from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. (Well) Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. (Yes) But not only that: (No) Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. [cheering] (Yeah, Oh yes, Lord) Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. (Yes) Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. (Yes) From every mountainside (Yeah) [sustained applause], let freedom ring. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
June, 12, 1987, Bradenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany. President Reagan stood before a foreign crowd, in a foreign land, still reeling from divisions put in place by past wars, decades removed. And he called on the current leaders to do what he saw was in the best interest of the world.
We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev…Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! ~Ronald Reagan
July, 27, 2016, Trump Doral Resort, Doral, Florida. Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, standing before members of the press, gathered in conference to hear his ideas for the nation, and the state of his and his opponents campaign. When, during due course, he gave this now famous retort.
“Russia if you are listening? I hope you are able to find the thirty thousand emails that are missing” ~Donald J. Trump
When Kennedy spoke in 1962, it inspired a nation. And as he had desired be done, The United States of America did indeed advance it’s space program and did successfully land a spacecraft on the moon and men did walked upon it’s surface.
When King spoke in 1963, it too inspired the nation. And as he and so many others of the civil rights movement had fought for, The United States of America did indeed pass the historic Civil Rights Acts of 1964.
When Reagan spoke in 1987, his words became the final straw. As he had called for, the Berlin wall did indeed come down and a once divided nation did begin to work towards becoming whole again.
When candidate Trump spoke in 2016, his words caused jaws in Washington, D.C., to drop in disbelief, and stirred Russian hackers into action in Moscow.
As of today, April, 18, 2016, beginning with the announcement made by US Attorney General William Barr (saying in essence that Trump’s words, and the actions of those close to him, weren’t inspiring, actionable, or criminal because he played no part in the actions carried out by the Russians), using words to call or inspire people in to action, differs, apparently, in this day and age from calls to action made by Kennedy, King, and Reagan, as exampled herein.
Whereas Kennedy’s call on the nation to support the moon mission was, and is, seen as one of the most inspiring moment in American history. And rightly seen as the spark that made the impossible possible. Such cannot be said of the words spake by Trump, according to Barr there was no spark there. He can’t be charged.
Whereas Kings call on the nation to let freedom ring from every hill and mole hill in Mississippi; with the most riveting words, inspiring Congress to act, Trumps words, apparently a thud, did not resonate. He can’t be charged.
Whereas Reagan’s shout to foreign leaders to tear down the Berlin served as a much needed booster shot, Trumps words to a foreign nation, by comparison, apparently measures less that a whimper. Trump will not be charged with recruiting Russians to act against Americans.
According to Barr’s ruling, Trump’s words were — again in essence — empty, vacuous, vain, uninspiring, and non-actionable. He can’t be accredited, he can’t be judged causal, neither good or bad, his words meant nothing. Zero, zilch, nyet. Despite Russian actors doing exactly what they heard him say, as though they were indeed “listening” when he asked for their assistance.
(Imagined) Russian reply — “Ten-four, we hear you loud and clear Mr. Soon-to-be President, consider it done, on the down-low”.
