The commemoration in Dallas of the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy reminded me of why I became a Peace Corps Volunteer after I graduated from college, and why today I am a writer.
JFK's words certainly shaped my life. And I'm not alone. Many others were also motivated to serve their country. We were changed forever by his idealism, his life-view of service and by what those volunteers encountered during their years of service.
It is said that Kennedy and the Peace Corps's founding director, Sargent Shriver, knew that the greatest changes would take place in the minds of the volunteers, not in the countries in which they served. I can attest to that truth.
During the commemoration in Dallas, presidential historian David McCullough read excerpts of some of Kennedy's best known speeches.He said Kennedy spoke of things that mattered, including education, service to one's country and the cause of peace on Earth. And he said Kennedy spoke to the point, with confidence and without ''stale platitudes.'' I have no doubt that JFK was a great orator as well as a great speech writer.
What JFK communicated to me revolved around two simple propositions: That words matter. And that stringing words together to create powerful thoughts that move readers is important work.
I was stirred by his words, particularly these: So, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.
The instant he announced the formation of The Peace Corps, I was ready to sign up, although I had to wait six years before I could volunteer.
My decision to become a writer also stemmed directly from JFK's sense of style--not only the way he wrote and spoke--although that was important--but also the way he dressed, behaved, and held himself. (I am referring here more to the image of how he behaved rather than what we learned later of how he actually behaved.)
He made it seem as though everything we wanted to achieve as a nation was well within our kin. He did not make it look easy. He made it look as though we could do it if we really wanted and that the doing of it was worthwhile. I took that to heart when I set out to become a Peace Corps Volunteer on the northern coast of Colombia. I also took it to heart when I set out to be a writer.
Thanks to this day of commemoration, I came to understand how JFK was a principal actor in my life, motivating me to become the person I am today.
Note: In my view JFK rhetoric created an historic moment that changed history in its own rite. That is exactly what President Lincoln created with his Gettysburg Address. Read my analysis of that speech in an earlier ExcitingWriting Advisory: http://excitingwritingblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-power-of-negative-writing.html
