Robert F. Kennedy speech ~ Mindless Menace of Violence - YouTube

People need to listen to this...

June 5, 2012

Well, I couldn't let June 5 go by without mentioning it is the 44th anniversary of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. It is still a painful memory for me and I can't keep thinking how much the world really needs someone like him today. Especially with the mess the US political environment is in; too much nastiness and not enough caring for their fellow citizens.

But, life goes on. RFK's grandson Joe Kennedy is running for Congress in Massachusetts and was just added to the ballot for the Democratic primary in September. He will carry on the work of his grandfather, his father and his great-uncles. He has already come out in favor of the Paycheck Fairness Act. Good luck, Joe!

RFK In The Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope

RFK In The Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope

Be sure to catch this film about RFK's June 1966 visit to South Africa. He gave one of his greatest speeches there, the Day of Affirmation Speech which was delivered on June 6, 1966.

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

The film will be airing on PBS stations on Monday, August 22nd.

Best Robert F. Kennedy Biographies – Reviews and Rankings | Bestcovery

I just listed my top 5 biographies of RFK.

Best Robert F. Kennedy Biographies – Reviews and Rankings | Bestcovery

Anniversary of RFK's death in 1968

It is hard to believe we are passing another anniversary. 43 years ago RFK was shot down while running for president. Robert F. Kennedy has now been dead longer than he was alive.

His presence is still sorely needed. I can imagine how he would feel about the current state of world politics.

I still believe in the words and deeds of RFK. He was what the US needed in 1968 and he was taken away too soon. The world would not be the way it is today had he lived. That is not to say it would be perfect, I sincerely doubt that. However, I don't believe the US would have lost its way had he been the chief of state.

So, I'll mark this anniversary the way I always do. I'll read some of his speeches and remember what a remarkable man he was.

From Amazon.com
 

The 'Kennedys' Home Movies' Gets Up Close and Personal

The 'Kennedys' Home Movies' Gets Up Close and Personal

I am watching this show tonight. This is the second this has been shown on TLC, not sure if it will air again. If you get the chance you have to catch it.

Right now I'm watching the Bobby footage. Some of these clips I have never seen. It bring everything back so clearly and so painfully.

Another MLK Day

Another Martin Luther King Day is upon us. While it is only a holiday in the US, it is a day that is observed by many around the world.

The US sorely needs someone like Martin Luther King Jr. to save them from themselves. It's like they are moving backwards instead of forward like the rest of the world.

We have to remember the message of non-violence that Dr. King put forward. The civil rights movement moved faster because of his message. Yes, there was violence but the movements he was involved in never resorted to the type of violence used against them and the world was better for it.

To quote RFK said on April 4th, 1968, lets learn to "tame the savageness of man."



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I Hate to Say This But...

If RFK were alive today he'd be kicking Barack Obama's butt. Obama compromises his principles too much and way too often. RFK would have been a much tougher president.

I still admire Obama for many things, but I just wish he would handle his presidency better than he is handling it. He has to stop trying to compromise with people who have no intention of compromising. I like a lot of what he has done so far but he could do so much more.

I bet he is wishing about right now that he had stayed writing his excellent books, and working with communities directly. Often, the best thing someone can do to help the world is to stay out of national politics.

Look at RFK Jr., he is a well-respected environment attorney who can make things happen. He is often prodded about entering national politics, but in my opinion he is doing so much more than he could if he were in political office. I think it could have been the same with Barack Obama.

42 years ago

Hard to believe that it's been 42 years since Robert F. Kennedy was shot. He has been dead now almost as long as he was alive, just short by 5 months.

This year is also different since now all the Kennedy brothers are dead; all buried together at Arlington. I will definitely have to visit Arlington soon. I imagine it'll be quite emotional for me.

I still believe in the ideals of RFK. It's funny how suddenly a lot of what he stood for is being called socialism. It seems the far right thinks what used to be called democratic ideals are now examples of a rush towards communism. They even rail against things they used to be in favor of.

Nothing could be further from the truth. I am not American but I thought America was finally moving towards a truly just country, one that would fulfill what the Statue of Liberty and "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" stood for. But, it seems 9/11 changed all that. I do still have hope that things will work out for the better. I'll never give up hoping.




This was the first biography I read of RFK and it is still one of the best.

Goodbye Teddy

I just spent an emotional morning watching Ted Kennedy's funeral, very touching. I also enjoyed the memorial last night. I am so grateful it was streamed.

Here is a link to the funeral program:

http://cfadm.3cdn.net/47d53e97b2c667bac5_a3m6ii1zo.pdf

Another anniversary

The anniversary of the murder of Robert F. Kennedy is here again. The years seem to be passing by so quickly. It is 41 years since he was killed at the Ambassador Hotel while running for President of the United States.

For me, the fact that Barack Obama is now president lessens the political loss. To me, Obama will be the type of president I would have expected RFK to be. I hope I will be proven right. Whatever, the future of the world seems more hopeful than it did at this time last year.

I still feel that we should remember all that Robert F. Kennedy tried to do for the United States. He did give his life for his country. Thankfully, many of his children are carrying on his work in their own way.

Here are some news stories I found today:

An Unexpected Delay of Game

Bless Robert Kennedy and the Kennedy Family

Memories of RFK

And my article on his funeral written in 2007:

The Funeral of Robert F. Kennedy

Remembering Robert F. Kennedy: his comments on the death of Martin Luther King

It's almost that time of year again, hard to believe it was 41 years ago.

Remembering Robert F. Kennedy: his comments on the death of Martin Luther King

The right path

You may think I'm crazy but this was put into perspective for me when I heard an editorial by Bill Flanagan on CBS's Sunday Morning. He believes that Obama got so much support from a lot of people who came of age in the 60s because after 1968, and the deaths of MLK and RFK, the US began on the wrong path. But with Obama many feel that we are finally on the right path. Now this is where the crazy part comes in. When it was announced that Barack Obama had been elected I heard a very noticeable click and had a rush of thoughts about Bobby, and then I felt that everything had come full circle. I've never had a feeling like that before. It is as if that if Bobby couldn't be President, at least Obama made it. Flanagan also stated that maybe we can finally put the 60s behind us now. However, that won't stop me from reading and writing about RFK.

Congratulations to Barack Obama

Congratulations to the President-elect.



From Boston.com

The Funeral of Robert F. Kennedy: June 8, 1968

The funeral of Bobby Kennedy was on June 8th. A service was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Edward Kennedy read a touching and emotional eulogy for his brother.

Bobby's coffin was then taken to a train where it would travel to Washington, D.C. A train journey that should have taken only a couple of hours, took five hours.

As I wrote in my article The Funeral of Robert F. Kennedy

The train arrived in Washington just after 9pm; the trip took twice as long as it normally would have. After leaving the train, the funeral procession briefly stopped at the Lincoln Memorial where the Marine Corps Band played “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

The procession then moved on to the Arlington Cemetery. It was the only nighttime burial that has ever taken place there. Floodlights were placed around the grave and candles were distributed to the mourners. The coffin was carried to the grave site by 13 pallbearers; among them were Robert McNamara, Edward Kennedy, and Joseph Kennedy, the oldest son of Robert F. Kennedy.

There was a brief graveside service performed by Terence Cardinal Cooke, the Archbishop of New York. A flag was then folded and presented to his widow, Ethel, by John Glenn.

The majority of the mourners had left by midnight. Among those mourners was singer Bobby Darin, according to him he spent the night at the grave site. Darin had campaigned for Kennedy and had only met him a few weeks previously. In response to Robert F. Kenney's death he wrote the song “In Memoriam.”

 

RFK Funeral Train

 

 

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial at Arlington

Funeral information from Arlington

Bobby Kennedy articles, June 7, 2008

Priest who anointed dying RFK

Robert F. Kennedy reached out to Omaha boy in '68

Robert F. Kennedy gave us hope that poverty would be addressed

When Robert Kennedy gave his all - A review of The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America

The death of Robert F. Kennedy: June 6, 1968

After twenty-six hours of worldwide concern and grief, Bobby Kennedy died at 1:44 am on June 6th, 1968.

 Frank Mankiewicz announces the death of RFK

After an autopsy, his body was flown back to New York City where it lay in state at St. Patrick's Cathedral until June 8th. Over 100,000 people lined the streets of New York City for the chance to pass by his coffin. Here is his obituary from the New York Times.

Bobby Kennedy, articles June 6, 2008

US marks 40 years since RFK death

Local leaders hold Bobby Kennedy memorial - from Indianapolis

Robert F. Kennedy's long standing impact on politics

RFK's death and the hope of the young

Bobby Kennedy articles, June 5, 2008 - Part 2

The Delta in our Home - Kathleen Kennedy Townsend discusses her father.

Remembering Bobby

Robert F. Kennedy's assassination still moves a retired air force officer

40 years after assassination, RFK aide recalls senator's charisma

Voices - Juan Romero - the busboy who held Bobby after he had been shot.

Robert F. Kennedy: the legacy of the 1968 campaign

40 years later: the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy - a very touching first-person account on video.

Bobby Kennedy, 40 years later

Robert F. Kennedy remembered - David Broder of the Washington Post recalls the 1968 campaign on video.

Why Bobby rocks a new generation

Taking "no" for an answer - Joseph Kennedy II talks about his father.

Lessons of the magnolia tree - Kerry Kennedy talks about her father.

Bobby Kennedy articles, June 5, 2008

RFK Assassination: Aide Recalls Tragedy Repeated - Ted Sorensen remembers

The day I graduated, and Bobby Kennedy died

The Assassination of Robert Kennedy

1968 a series: Robert F. Kennedy's mission ended by assassin

Robert Kennedy's death tested America's resilience

Where history turned

Slaying gave US a first taste of Mideast terror

Bobby Kennedy: 40 years later

This Kennedy was our friend

RFK Assassination

A day to celebrate the legacy of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy

Did Robert Kennedy run "The Last Campaign"?