In case you missed Joe Kennedy deliver the Democratic response to Trump's 2018 State of the Union speech, here it is. My favorite part? "If that wall is built, my generation will tear it down."
His speech was more compelling than the president's. I thought the president had a lot of trouble following the teleprompter and because he was trying to sound presidential he spoke in a monotone.
As the Trump year rolled on I reflected: I'm not likely to visit the US again. Age, long-distance planes, and hassles at the immigration gate don't mix. Worse, I wasn't sure I wanted to anyway. I'd watched Trump on TV as I might scenes from the Theatre of Cruelty, laughed at the paradoxes and eventually (if subconsciously) concluded that the whole country was tainted.
Yet fifty years ago I worked hard and ingeniously to find a job in the USA. Not to advance myself financially but out of curiosity and a conviction - based on an immersion in all forms of US culture - that I would enjoy myself. I found a job, was welcomed by people living in the burbs, drank beer at barbecues, bought a baseball mitt, and - ironically - spent some of my time correcting the English of academics at such obscure halls of learning as MIT, USC and Ohio State. Ironically because I left school at 15 and some of those academics wrote me thank-you letters. I have a daughter with dual-nationality so I must have been content enough to have brought about that. Six years later, for complex reasons, I returned to the UK.
What happened between 1966-1972 and 2017-2018? It's a rhetorical question. You all know the facts if not necessarily all the reasons.
A tainted country? Nah, for one thing it's too big, more like a continent than a country. There are people wearing parkas while others disport themselves in Hawaian shirts. There are huge but justifiable differences of opinion.
Interestingly Kennedy's speech employed a vocabulary not much larger than Trump's. The syntax was, however, a distinct improvement. Also the sentiments. The Vietnam war was raging when I was there and Kennedy's speech, with a tweak here or there, could have been made then. There was fury and frustration then as there always should be when a country is at war.
The danger now is despair. Perhaps even shame although I wouldn't know about that. Kennedy's speech may have been the one swallow that doesn't herald the summer, but it was worth listening to end to end. I am marginally more optimistic than half an hour ago. I feel closer again. As I did when, with my head stuffed with early Roth, Don Siegel, Damon Runyon, the Blondie strip, Pabst beer, the shape of the Chevy Corvette. and Mort Sahl - I bought a one-way ticket with Icelandic Airlines and took an 18-hour flight from Prestwick (It's in Scotland) to Kennedy. looking for fun and feeling (potentially) groovy.
Thanks for this thoughtful and interesting reply, Roderick. My only complaint with Kennedy's speech was his presentation. It was good, perhaps good enough. But when he said "We want both" I couldn't help but imagine how his great uncle Jack might have delivered that line. But I'm happy to see these young people step forward. Practice makes perfect (hopefully).
Keep your eye on the prize. Vote. Go to the polls and vote for the end to gerrymandering, voter discrimination and suppression. Folding chairs in an auto mechanic classroom. Of course we will overcome. They are the future.
I didn't hear all of Kennedy's speech, and don't time to listen right now, but I did feel a sense of relief in knowing that he has carried on his father's, families, tradition of public service. He's a beam of light in all this seemingly unending darkness.
I have been watching him for a while. He looks 150% picture book Irish. What got me interested is that he worked fir (with?) the Peace Corps for several years.
Amen and AMEN!!!!
ReplyDeleteLike
DeleteI didn't watch either of the speeches. I do love the line you quoted here. Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteJoe Kennedy did well.
DeleteHis speech was more compelling than the president's. I thought the president had a lot of trouble following the teleprompter and because he was trying to sound presidential he spoke in a monotone.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time watching 45.
DeleteAs the Trump year rolled on I reflected: I'm not likely to visit the US again. Age, long-distance planes, and hassles at the immigration gate don't mix. Worse, I wasn't sure I wanted to anyway. I'd watched Trump on TV as I might scenes from the Theatre of Cruelty, laughed at the paradoxes and eventually (if subconsciously) concluded that the whole country was tainted.
ReplyDeleteYet fifty years ago I worked hard and ingeniously to find a job in the USA. Not to advance myself financially but out of curiosity and a conviction - based on an immersion in all forms of US culture - that I would enjoy myself. I found a job, was welcomed by people living in the burbs, drank beer at barbecues, bought a baseball mitt, and - ironically - spent some of my time correcting the English of academics at such obscure halls of learning as MIT, USC and Ohio State. Ironically because I left school at 15 and some of those academics wrote me thank-you letters. I have a daughter with dual-nationality so I must have been content enough to have brought about that. Six years later, for complex reasons, I returned to the UK.
What happened between 1966-1972 and 2017-2018? It's a rhetorical question. You all know the facts if not necessarily all the reasons.
A tainted country? Nah, for one thing it's too big, more like a continent than a country. There are people wearing parkas while others disport themselves in Hawaian shirts. There are huge but justifiable differences of opinion.
Interestingly Kennedy's speech employed a vocabulary not much larger than Trump's. The syntax was, however, a distinct improvement. Also the sentiments. The Vietnam war was raging when I was there and Kennedy's speech, with a tweak here or there, could have been made then. There was fury and frustration then as there always should be when a country is at war.
The danger now is despair. Perhaps even shame although I wouldn't know about that. Kennedy's speech may have been the one swallow that doesn't herald the summer, but it was worth listening to end to end. I am marginally more optimistic than half an hour ago. I feel closer again. As I did when, with my head stuffed with early Roth, Don Siegel, Damon Runyon, the Blondie strip, Pabst beer, the shape of the Chevy Corvette. and Mort Sahl - I bought a one-way ticket with Icelandic Airlines and took an 18-hour flight from Prestwick (It's in Scotland) to Kennedy. looking for fun and feeling (potentially) groovy.
Thanks for this thoughtful and interesting reply, Roderick. My only complaint with Kennedy's speech was his presentation. It was good, perhaps good enough. But when he said "We want both" I couldn't help but imagine how his great uncle Jack might have delivered that line. But I'm happy to see these young people step forward. Practice makes perfect (hopefully).
Delete...feelin' groovy. :)
DeleteKeep your eye on the prize. Vote. Go to the polls and vote for the end to gerrymandering, voter discrimination and suppression.
ReplyDeleteFolding chairs in an auto mechanic classroom. Of course we will overcome. They are the future.
I may have to squint to see that damn prize, but I still manage to keep in in my sight.
DeleteI didn't hear all of Kennedy's speech, and don't time to listen right now, but I did feel a sense of relief in knowing that he has carried on his father's, families, tradition of public service. He's a beam of light in all this seemingly unending darkness.
ReplyDeleteYes, and there are many others like him. Change is coming.
DeleteThank you for posting this. What made the strongest impression on me is when he spoke fluent Spanish. As you said, change is coming.
ReplyDeleteI was also impressed by his Spanish.
DeleteI have been watching him for a while. He looks 150% picture book Irish. What got me interested is that he worked fir (with?) the Peace Corps for several years.
ReplyDelete