Are the inaugural addresses of Lincoln and Kennedy relevant today? Explain your answer with no less than three examples of support from the text.
To determine whether the inaugural addresses of Lincoln and Kennedy are relevant today, we need to examine their texts and identify examples that support their ongoing relevance. Here are three excerpts from each speech that demonstrate their enduring significance:
1. Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address (March 4, 1861):
- "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies." This statement emphasizes the importance of unity and reconciliation, which remains relevant in today's polarized political climate.
- "The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." This passage highlights the enduring notion of invoking our shared sense of history and shared values to unite the nation, a concept that can still resonate today.
- "In your hand, my fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war." This acknowledgment of the power and responsibility of the American people to shape the nation's future reminds us that citizens have a crucial role to play in the democratic process, which continues to apply in the present day.
2. John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address (January 20, 1961):
- "Let both sides unite to heed, in all corners of the earth, the command of Isaiah—to 'undo the heavy burdens... and to let the oppressed go free.'" This call to global action and justice resonates with ongoing struggles against oppression and inequality worldwide.
- "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." This commitment to upholding liberty and supporting allies while standing against adversaries still serves as a guiding principle in U.S. foreign policy today.
- "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." This famous line inspires individual civic responsibility, encouraging citizens to contribute to the betterment of their nation, a timeless sentiment applicable in any era.
In conclusion, the inaugural addresses of Lincoln and Kennedy, as demonstrated by the above examples, contain themes of unity, shared values, citizen participation, justice, liberty, and civic responsibility, which remain relevant today. These speeches provide timeless principles and ideals that can guide our understanding and actions as we confront contemporary challenges.