budoviking

I logged on this evening with the intention of writing a rant on the failure of imagination endemic with the current White House in response to the President's call for opening our offshore waters to oil drilling . However, I changed my mind...

Living in DC we residents sometimes forget the history that surrounds us. At times we are reminded and refreshed when visitors from out of town arrive for a day or a few and we have the opportunity to visit some of the sites. Such was the case this past weekend when we had old friends from Italy in town.

My friend's mother is French and a WWII survivor. She was rescued, liberated from hiding, by American troops following the Normandy invasion. With this in mind, my friend wanted to take her family to Arlington cemetery to pay her respects and express her gratitude for the sacrifice.

In addition to observing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, we also visited JFK's grave site. I leave you with the quotes inscribe in stone semi-circle facing the eternal flame.

Let the word go forth
From this time and place
To friend and foe alike
That the torch has been passed
To a new generation of Americans.

Let every nation know
Whether it wishes us well or ill
That we shall pay any price - bear any burden
Meet any hardship - support any friend
Oppose any foe to assure the survival
And the success of liberty

Now the trumpet summons us again
Not as a call to bear arms
- though embattled we are
But a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle
A struggle against the common enemies of man Tyranny - Poverty - Disease - and War itself

In the long history of the world
Only a few generations have been granted
The role of defending freedom
In the hour of maximum danger
I do not shrink from this responsibility
I welcome it

The Energy - the Faith - the Devotion
Which we bring to this endeavor
Will light our country
And all who serve it
And the glow from that fire
Can truly light the world

And so my fellow Americans
Ask not what your country can do for you
Ask what you can do for your country
My fellow citizens of the world - ask not
What America can do for you - but what together
We can do for the freedom of man

With a good conscience our only sure reward
With history the final judge of our deeds
Let us go forth to lead the land we love - asking His blessing
And his help - but knowing that here on earth
God's work must truly be our own.

May we all find the inspiration and imagination necessary to change just one small corner of the world for the better.