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Show Mark My Words Kimball Serious, In Quiet Respect The better part of my three years of undistinguished service to this newspaper has been spent in the pursuit of humor. However, since Sunday, Nov. 22, 1964, is the first anniversary of one of those events which is not and can never be funny, I propose to harness the sarcasm for a few short paragraphs of tribute to John F. Kennedy. It is a personal tribute intended not to endorse his particular legislative legisla-tive proposals, but to praise his attitude atti-tude toward life and politics and calculate cal-culate his effect upon my generation. . Four years ago, I was a loud high school senior with a compulsive interest in the history and politics of my country and a deep fascination for the young, colorful senator from Massachusetts. Everything about him was exciting his background from Harvard, his war heroics, hero-ics, his marriage, his fight against a crippling crip-pling back ailment, his pulitzer-prize book, along with his political style that was charming, witty, eloquent Many parents and even teachers had a cynical view of politics that saw it as a dishonest, shabby profession. John Kennedy Ken-nedy changed that prejudice. He made public life honorable and dignified, and convinced the young people that they should not only know about politics but also take an active role in it During the weeks of the campaign, I wrote eight verses to "Happy Days are Here Again," stayed up the entire election elec-tion eve nervously making victory posters, post-ers, and went jubilantly to school practicing prac-ticing a Boston accent He had this dizzying dizzy-ing effect on millions and his sphere of influence spread during his term of office. It was not necessarily political popularity, but a personal strength and magnetism that was manifest in everything he did. This is why the nation stood in mute disbelief last November. It was too much to comprehend suddenly that a young, vibrant man who had never recognized defeat could fall completely. In the year since the eternal flame was lighted the game of politics has consisted con-sisted of charges of graft countered by charges of irresponsibility. There has been not philosophical discussion of where this nation has and where it should be going, just hazy references to individual indi-vidual freedom and a great society. The Kennedy style of open debate has been missing and although it is futile, one can't help but remember and regret the loss. Many such reminiscenses will be spoken or written this week, and the only ones who benefit from the sentimental verbiage are usually the people who speak or write. Nothing can bring him back, but we must, even if stupidly, give vent to our emotions. Perhaps the way to see him best is like Hauseman's athlete dying young who lived briefly but never knew disillusionment. disillusion-ment. Probably nothing could have saved him. He was hungry for progress and knew he needed the support of the people and put his fate in their hands. No president presi-dent can ignore the crowds and some die while pleasing them. Sunday is an infamous day in our land, and it can do no harm to offer a prayer that we will find a way to stop murdering the men we elect to lead us while we quietly remember that John F. Kennedy way, an example of what America Amer-ica at its best can produce. |