Another Anniversary – Another Reminder

As we remember this day 45 years ago it serves as a reminder that even one of the most powerful figures in American history could lose his life in a matter of a few deadly minutes on the sunny, streets of downtown Dallas, Texas. It was a beautiful day there and I remember it well. I was going to the University of North Texas in Denton – about thirty miles from Dallas, but I happened to be in Dallas that day in order to go to a dentist at Baylor University. My appointment was at one o’clock. I remember the groups of people huddled together listening to radios as I parked at the Dental Clinic. I remember the looks on their faces – horror, disbelief, fear, tears. I stopped one man who had a dazed look on his face and asked him what was happening. He stared at me for a minute and then said, “They’ve killed our president! Kennedy is dead!” Then he turned and walked away. I walked in to my appointment with my own dazed look and tears running down my face. I will never forget that moment.

And with those memories still so vivid, I found myself this morning being very frightened for our new President-elect – there have been so many threats; there are so many nut cases – like Oswald, who are angry and bitter about so many things; still so many racial issues that have never been completely put to rest. I know security is so much tighter than it was in 1963, so much more awareness of the dangers, but when you have witnessed such violence it is hard to forget.

Kennedy ushered in a new and incredible period for this country and I believe Obama has the ability and desire to bring about that “new day” we have all been talking about over the last year. I think we have come from “hoping” to “believing” that it is possible. So, as we celebrate the life and mourn the death of John F. Kennedy, let us all renew our faith in our country and in our new leaders. Let us once again become a country the rest of the world can respect, admire and look to for hope of a new day.