Saturday, November 22, 2014

Assignment 11/22

     "To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge--to convert our good words into good deeds--in a new alliance for progress--to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house."

This part of the speech basically speaks of how America is going to stay free from communist influences and they hope that the bordering countries will do so as well. It starts off with a peaceful enough beginning, however it continues to in a nicer or more washed out declare of war.  The way in which JFK presented it was as supporting those in need of help and a revolution for those who have suffered in the hands of poverty.  In this passage he seems to try and get the alliance of other countries in joining the United States' fight against communism.

This passage to me showed the way in which politicians romanticized war.  Though I think JFK was probably very passive about the whole ideal of war, he still supported the United States in this war of communism and capitalism.  He tried romanticizing this whole idea of wasting money and time on what he called a revolution.  However he contradicted himself, and even though the speech that he presented was very inspiring there was still a aggressive attitude.  He still had that mentality that if the United States didn't do anything, then the neighboring countries would soon convert to communist.  It's reasonable however to have that fear at that time, because even today there are remains if that same fear.  I thought this was a good passage because I felt that in parts he contradicted himself, which often politicians do.

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