From Michael Moore: (excerpts)
AN INCREDIBLE AND HISTORIC MOMENT TOOK PLACE 60 YEARS AGO ON JUNE 10, 1963.
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS ASKED TO GIVE A COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
HAPPENING JUST FIVE MONTHS BEFORE HIS ASSASSINATION, HE BRAVELY CALLED FOR AN END TO WAR, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT PEACE AND THE ABOLITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. HE ASKED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NOT TO HATE OR FEAR THE RUSSIAN/SOVIET PEOPLE, THAT THEY WERE A PEOPLE OF VIRTUE WHO HAD SACRIFICED OVER 20 MILLION OF THEIR CITIZENS TO DEFEAT HITLER, AND THAT WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT. “WE SHARE THE SAME PLANET,” HE PLEADED. HE WENT ON TO SAY WE MUST BE AT PEACE WITH EACH OTHER. AND THE BILLIONS WE SPEND ON WEAPONS OF WAR SHOULD BE SPENT ON ELIMINATING POVERTY, EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN, CREATING A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT. AND HERE AT HOME THERE CAN BE NO PEACE IF WE LIVE IN A NATION OF INEQUALITY. I’M GUESSING SOME AMERICANS CLEARLY SAW HIS THINKING IN A NOT SO POSITIVE WAY, JUST THREE YEARS AFTER EISENHOWER EQUALLY BRAVE WARNED ABOUT OUR DANGEROUS “INDUSTRIAL-MILITARY-COMPLEX” THAT WAS BUILT TO INCREASE THE PROFITS OF THE FEW WHO MANUFACTURE THEM.