How far we have fallen.... Recalling JFK's "City Upon A Hill" Speech JAN 9th, 1961

We as a nation have allowed people who are highly unqualified to take control of our governments on the Federal, State and Local levels.  The people who are in charge are a mere shadow of those who were elected in the past..... Think about people like Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Truman, IKE and JFK....Compare them to the faux leaders who are in our halls of government now....

There is no comparison.  We do not have the quality leaders we need. There is no comparison and we need better leaders now more than ever.


Take a listen to the enclosed link and read the words that JFK spoke just before he was to be inaugurated.  This speech sums up in 8 minutes what we need from our leaders.  You don't have to agree with JFK's political views but you can't argue with his principles of what we should be getting from our leaders on all levels of the government we elect and who should serve the people, not the other way around.

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/OYhUZE2Qo0-ogdV7ok900A.aspx

City Upon A Hill
President Elect John F. Kennedy
Massachusetts General Court,
January 9, 1961


I have welcomed this opportunity to address this historic body, and, through you, the people of Massachusetts to whom I am so deeply indebted for a lifetime of friendship and trust.

For fourteen years I have placed my confidence in the citizens of Massachusetts--and they have generously responded by placing their confidence in me.
 
Now, on the Friday after next, I am to assume new and broader responsibilities. But I am not here to bid farewell to Massachusetts.

For forty-three years--whether I was in London, Washington, the South Pacific, or elsewhere--this has been my home; and, God willing, wherever I serve this shall remain my home

It was here my grandparents were born--it is here I hope my grandchildren will be born.

I speak neither from false provincial pride nor artful political flattery. For no man about to enter high office in this country can ever be unmindful of the contribution this state has made to our national greatness.

Its leaders have shaped our destiny long before the great republic was born. Its principles have guided our footsteps in times of crisis as well as in times of calm. Its democratic institutions--including this historic body--have served as beacon lights for other nations as well as our sister states.

For what Pericles said to the Athenians has long been true of this commonwealth: "We do not imitate--for we are a model to others."
 
And so it is that I carry with me from this state to that high and lonely office to which I now succeed more than fond memories of firm friendships. The enduring qualities of Massachusetts--the common threads woven by the Pilgrim and the Puritan, the fisherman and the farmer, the Yankee and the immigrant--will not be and could not be forgotten in this nation's executive mansion.

They are an indelible part of my life, my convictions, my view of the past, and my hopes for the future.

Allow me to illustrate: During the last sixty days, I have been at the task of constructing an administration. It has been a long and deliberate process. Some have counseled greater speed. Others have counseled more expedient tests.
 
But I have been guided by the standard John Winthrop set before his shipmates on the flagship Arbella three hundred and thirty-one years ago, as they, too, faced the task of building a new government on a perilous frontier.

"We must always consider," he said, "that we shall be as a city upon a hill--the eyes of all people are upon us."
 
Today the eyes of all people are truly upon us--and our governments, in every branch, at every level, national, state and local, must be as a city upon a hill--constructed and inhabited by men aware of their great trust and their great responsibilities.

For we are setting out upon a voyage in 1961 no less hazardous than that undertaken by the Arabella in 1630. We are committing ourselves to tasks of statecraft no less awesome than that of governing the Massachusetts Bay Colony, beset as it was then by terror without and disorder within.

History will not judge our endeavors--and a government cannot be selected--merely on the basis of color or creed or even party affiliation. Neither will competence and loyalty and stature, while essential to the utmost, suffice in times such as these.

For of those to whom much is given, much is required. And when at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each one of us--recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state--our success or failure, in whatever office we may hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions:

First, were we truly men of courage--with the courage to stand up to one's enemies--and the courage to stand up, when necessary, to one's associates--the courage to resist public pressure, as well as private greed

Secondly, were we truly men of judgment--with perceptive judgment of the future as well as the past--of our own mistakes as well as the mistakes of others--with enough wisdom to know that we did not know, and enough candor to admit it?
 
Third, were we truly men of integrity--men who never ran out on either the principles in which they believed or the people who believed in them--men who believed in us--men whom neither financial gain nor political ambition could ever divert from the fulfillment of our sacred trust?

Finally, were we truly men of dedication--with an honor mortgaged to no single individual or group, and compromised by no private obligation or aim, but devoted solely to serving the public good and the national interest.

Courage--judgment--integrity--dedication--these are the historic qualities of the Bay Colony and the Bay State--the qualities which this state has consistently sent to this chamber on Beacon Hill here in Boston and to Capitol Hill back in Washington.

And these are the qualities which, with God's help, this son of Massachusetts hopes will characterize our government's conduct in the four stormy years that lie ahead.

Humbly I ask His help in that undertaking--but aware that on earth His will is worked by men. I ask for your help and your prayers, as I embark on this new and solemn journey.

"We must always consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill--the eyes of all people are upon us." - JFK - Jan. 9th, 1961

50 years ago today, I was a small baby in my Mother's arms.

50 Years ago today, a son of Massachusetts gave what I and many others consider a great speech, second only to his Inaugural Address. Ted Sorenson recently passed away and he was one of the key people who assisted John F. Kennedy in writing his many speeches.

This one was for the ages. It speaks to our history and sets a clear expectation for what Public Service SHOULD MEAN....Not like these feckless and greedy Bastards who only act like they can be political leaders.

Kennedy came from money, and his drive was to find ways to help others who were not as privileged...not through handouts and a permanent dole (like today) but by providing opportunity for people to WORK at being their best.

READ THESE WORDS and be in awe of what was to come....we are in need of men like JFK.

Jack, we truly miss you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address of President-Elect John F. Kennedy Delivered to a Joint Convention of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The State House, Boston
January 9, 1961

I have welcomed this opportunity to address this historic body, and, through you, the people of Massachusetts to whom I am so deeply indebted for a lifetime of friendship and trust.

For fourteen years I have placed my confidence in the citizens of Massachusetts--and they have generously responded by placing their confidence in me.

Now, on the Friday after next, I am to assume new and broader responsibilities. But I am not here to bid farewell to Massachusetts.

For forty-three years--whether I was in London, Washington, the South Pacific, or elsewhere--this has been my home; and, God willing, wherever I serve this shall remain my home.

It was here my grandparents were born--it is here I hope my grandchildren will be born.

I speak neither from false provincial pride nor artful political flattery. For no man about to enter high office in this country can ever be unmindful of the contribution this state has made to our national greatness.

Its leaders have shaped our destiny long before the great republic was born. Its principles have guided our footsteps in times of crisis as well as in times of calm. Its democratic institutions--including this historic body--have served as beacon lights for other nations as well as our sister states.

For what Pericles said to the Athenians has long been true of this commonwealth: "We do not imitate--for we are a model to others."

And so it is that I carry with me from this state to that high and lonely office to which I now succeed more than fond memories of firm friendships. The enduring qualities of Massachusetts--the common threads woven by the Pilgrim and the Puritan, the fisherman and the farmer, the Yankee and the immigrant--will not be and could not be forgotten in this nation's executive mansion.

They are an indelible part of my life, my convictions, my view of the past, and my hopes for the future.

Allow me to illustrate: During the last sixty days, I have been at the task of constructing an administration. It has been a long and deliberate process. Some have counseled greater speed. Others have counseled more expedient tests.

But I have been guided by the standard John Winthrop set before his shipmates on the flagship Arbella three hundred and thirty-one years ago, as they, too, faced the task of building a new government on a perilous frontier.

"We must always consider," he said, "that we shall be as a city upon a hill--the eyes of all people are upon us."

Today the eyes of all people are truly upon us--and our governments, in every branch, at every level, national, state and local, must be as a city upon a hill--constructed and inhabited by men aware of their great trust and their great responsibilities

For we are setting out upon a voyage in 1961 no less hazardous than that undertaken by the Arabella in 1630. We are committing ourselves to tasks of statecraft no less awesome than that of governing the Massachusetts Bay Colony, beset as it was then by terror without and disorder within.

History will not judge our endeavors--and a government cannot be selected--merely on the basis of color or creed or even party affiliation. Neither will competence and loyalty and stature, while essential to the utmost, suffice in times such as these.

For of those to whom much is given, much is required. And when at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each one of us--recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state--our success or failure, in whatever office we may hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions:

First, were we truly men of courage--with the courage to stand up to one's enemies--and the courage to stand up, when necessary, to one's associates--the courage to resist public pressure, as well as private greed?

Secondly, were we truly men of judgment--with perceptive judgment of the future as well as the past--of our own mistakes as well as the mistakes of others--with enough wisdom to know that we did not know, and enough candor to admit it?

Third, were we truly men of integrity--men who never ran out on either the principles in which they believed or the people who believed in them--men who believed in us--men whom neither financial gain nor political ambition could ever divert from the fulfillment of our sacred trust?

Finally, were we truly men of dedication--with an honor mortgaged to no single individual or group, and compromised by no private obligation or aim, but devoted solely to serving the public good and the national interest.

Courage--judgment--integrity--dedication--these are the historic qualities of the Bay Colony and the Bay State--the qualities which this state has consistently sent to this chamber on Beacon Hill here in Boston and to Capitol Hill back in Washington.

And these are the qualities which, with God's help, this son of Massachusetts hopes will characterize our government's conduct in the four stormy years that lie ahead.

Humbly I ask His help in that undertaking--but aware that on earth His will is worked by men. I ask for your help and your prayers, as I embark on this new and solemn journey.

Beacon Hill parents hatch $1.5m playground plan - REALLY?

I am one who admires success because if you are able to achieve it, you should be able to enjoy the fruits of that success.

This morning, I am reading the Boston Globe when I see the enclosed story " Beacon Hill parents hatch $1.5m playground plan " - Really? Are the hoity-toity uber-rich who live up on Beacon Hill so well off that they have the ability to dump $ 1.5 MILLION dollars into a playground???

Now I understand that the playground will be open to the public, it will fulfill a need for a playground in that area, they are raising the money themselves, etc. etc. But do we really need to highlight this in this economy??? Simultaneously while these uber-richies are doing this, we still have people losing their homes, jobs and normal life because even with some progress, the economy is still taking victims.

I don't begrudge the success these citizens have achieved but it just seemed like they could have done something like this without making it appear like they were blowing an outrageous amount of $$$ at a time where so many people are still hurting....really hurting.

It just seems to be one of those things where there no reason you can't do it, but I can't find many good reason why you should do it in this way, at this time.


Beacon Hill parents hatch $1.5m playground plan
By Renata Brito
Globe Correspondent / November 15, 2010

A Beacon Hill parents’ group is seeking to build a $1.5 million privately financed playground near the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade, hoping to give a surge of neighborhood youngsters a structured place to play in the popular park.

The group, called the Friends of Esplanade Playspace, says playgrounds along the river are geared toward children under 5, and grade-schoolers need something more suited to their age.

At 10,000 square feet, the new playground will be designed for children ages 5 to 12 and feature rocks for climbing, nets, a jungle gym, swings, and slides. It is slated for the riverside near the Esplanade Cafe, not far from the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge that spans Storrow Drive.

“As my kids get older, they pooh-pooh the idea of going to a baby playground. They want to be climbing trees,’’ said Karen Fabbri, whose children are 5 and 7. “They want to be exploring and climbing nature.’’

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation, which owns and maintains the Esplanade, has thrown its support behind the project, as has Mayor Thomas M. Menino. The group hopes the playground could be completed next summer.

“It’s an ambitious plan, but we’ve done playgrounds under similar circumstances before,’’ said Joe Orfant, chief of the DCR’s Bureau of Planning and Resource Protection.

Because the property belongs to the state, the Massachusetts Historical Commission will have to approve the plan.

The Beacon Hill Civic Association, an influential neighborhood group, has not taken a position on the playground but will review the proposal at a meeting tonight .

“Overall, it’s an exciting plan,’’ said Colin Zick, who chairs the group’s parks and public spaces committee. “But it’s a state park, and it’s important to preserve all of its uses.’’

Zick recalled past tensions over Lederman Park, a sports field along the river, regarding access and a proposed fence that critics said would spoil the open feel of the park. He said that allowing a group to use public space for a specific use could encourage others to follow suit.

But supporters and state officials say the proposed playground will be open to all. The Playspace group also plans to establish an endowment fund to maintain the playground.

“We want to build a first-class playground and maintain it that way,’’ Orfant said.

Wendy Fox, a spokeswoman for DCR, said the scope of the private effort is striking.

“That’s the only reason it’s happening,’’ she said. “It’s a great partnership and will be a very nice addition.’’

Parents said an influx of families with young children into the area has put playground space at a premium. About 2,700 children live on Beacon Hill and the Back Bay section closest to the Public Garden, the group says, citing census figures. That far surpasses the combined capacity of four playgrounds in the area, and four elementary schools do not have playgrounds.

The playground would be beside a paved path, so parents are discussing whether to put up fences to guard against collisions between children and runners and bikers. But because the park is meant for older children, parents want the area to be more open than traditional playgrounds.

City and state parks are enjoying unusual popularity in recent months, with attendance up sharply this past summer.

In August, the head of the state’s recreation department said the Esplanade, along with Castle Island in South Boston and Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester, had seen a rush of visitors during the warmer months, presumably because more families were spending vacations at home to save money.

In the same vein, a privately funded playground is welcome news to a budget-crunched state government. At a recent meeting about the plan, state Representative Martha Walz, who represents the Back Bay and Beacon Hill, called the playground “a terrific proposal.’’

“There’s a whole group of children who need a space and equipment that are relevant to their age,’’ she said, “and we don’t have that currently.’’

Peter Schworm of the Globe staff contributed to this report