Ten Things You Can Do For Your Country

From John F. Kennedy's January 20, 1961 speech

In times like these, here’s the kind of message I would love to hear from politicians, educators, presidents and religious leaders everywhere:

My fellow Americans, the only way a country can become truly great is for its citizens to become truly good. So in the spirit of John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you...” here are ten good things you can do for your country:

1. Become friends with people who are different from you. Respectfully share good things from the diversity of your cultures, traditions and faith convictions.

2. Be generous with your neighbors in need. Government programs must do their part, but each of us needs to volunteer more of our time and resources to help those less fortunate across the street and around the world.

3. Live a life of honesty and integrity. Show up on time at your work or school every day. Do your share and more. Never defraud your workers, employers, government agencies, insurance companies, or any other persons or institutions.

4. Obey all legitimate laws, and work to change unjust ones. Be law abiding not just for fear of being caught but simply because of who you are and the good example you want to set.

5. Respect all life from the womb to the tomb. Honor the unborn, and help spare the already born from the ravages of abuse, hunger, disease, war and poverty.

6. Save lovemaking for the married love of your life. Be faithful to your spouse, and take responsibility to bring up children in loving, stable and nurturing environments.

7. Take special care of the planet’s soil, air and water. Reduce wasteful consumption by reusing and enjoying more of what you already have, recycling everything you can, and by relying less on forms of  energy that pollute the atmosphere and waste scarce resources.

8. Don’t harm your body with tobacco, illegal drugs, or other harmful substances. Take personal responsibility for your health by eating right, exercising every day and maintaining a good level of emotional and spiritual well-being.

9. Honor your parents, grandparents and all aging and dependent persons. Care for them as you would want to be cared for yourself.

10. Avoid entertainment media that promote pornography, denigrate women, and glorify violence--and make sure to protect children from their destructive influences. Spend less time with TV, movies, video games and the Internet and more time in wholesome interactions with real people.

With God’s help, we could truly make ours a great country and the whole world a better neighborhood. In the process we could save billions in law enforcement and court expenses, in health care costs, and in prison and social service programs.

Best of all, none of the above would require special legislation or more tax dollars, only more personal responsibility by people like you and me.

A revised version of a July 11, 2011 blog.

Ten Things You Can Do For Your Country

From Kennedy's January 20, 1961 inauguaral speech

In times like these, here is the kind of message I would love to hear from politicians, educators, presidents and religious leaders everywhere:

My fellow Americans, the only way a nation can become truly great is for its citizens to become truly good. So in the spirit of John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you...” here are ten things you can do for your country:

1. Become friends with people who are different from you. Engage in conversations in which you listen to, and learn from, the diversity of your respective cultures, traditions and faith convictions.

2. Be generous with your neighbors in need. Government programs must do their part, but each of us needs to give generously of our time and resources to help those less fortunate across the street and around the world.

3. Live a life of integrity and responsibility. Do your best at your work or school every day. Never defraud your workers, employers, government agencies, insurance companies, or any other persons or institutions.

4. Obey all legitimate laws, and work to change unjust ones. Be law abiding not just for fear of being caught but simply because of who you are and the good example you want to set for others.

5. Respect all life from the womb to the tomb. Honor the unborn, and help spare the already born from the ravages of abuse, hunger, disease, poverty, injustice, war and all forms of violence.

6. Reserve “going all the way” with a chosen partner until you are publicly committed to “going all the way” in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, until death do you part. Be faithful to your spouse, and if you have children, bring them up in a stable, loving and nurturing household.

7. Take special care of the planet’s soil, air and water. Reduce wasteful consumption by living simply, buying locally, reusing and enjoying more of what you already have, recycling everything possible, and by relying less on forms of energy that pollute the atmosphere and waste scarce resources.

8. Don’t harm your body with tobacco, illegal drugs, or other harmful substances. Take personal responsibility for your health by eating right, exercising regularly and maintaining a good level of emotional and spiritual well-being.

9. Honor your parents, grandparents and all aging and dependent persons. Care for them as you would want to be cared for when you become unable to care for yourself.

10. Avoid entertainment media that promote pornography, denigrate women, and glorify violence--and make sure to protect children from their destructive influences. Spend less time with TV, screen media, video games and the internet and more time in wholesome interactions with real people.

With God’s help and the help of good people in our congregations and communities, we could truly make ours a great nation and the whole world a better neighborhood. In the process we could save billions in law enforcement and court expenses, in health care costs, in prisons and in social service programs.

Best of all, none of the above would require special legislation or more tax dollars, only more personal responsibility by ordinary citizens like you and me.

A revised version of a July 11, 2011 blog.

The Kind of Campaign Speech I'd Love To Hear

 What happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you..."?

I am still waiting to hear this kind of campaign speech, as follows:

My fellow Americans, the only way a country can become truly great is for its citizens to become truly good. So in the spirit of John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you...” here are ten good things you can do for your country:

1. Make friends with people who are different from you. Foster understanding by celebrating good things from the diversity of your cultures, traditions and faith convictions. 

2. Be generous with your neighbors in need. Government programs must do their part, but each of us needs to generously volunteer our time and resources to help those less fortunate across the street and around the world.

3. Live a life of honesty and integrity. Show up on time at your work or school every day. Do your share and more. Never defraud your workers, employers, government agencies, insurance companies, or any other persons or institutions. 

4. Obey all legitimate laws, and work to change unjust ones. For example, if you are asked to wear a face covering and socially distance in public, do so without complaining. Be law-abiding not just for fear of being punished but simply because of who you are and the good example you want to set for others.

5. Respect all life from the womb to the tomb. Honor the unborn, and do all you can to spare the already born from the ravages of abuse, hunger, disease, war and poverty.

6. Save lovemaking for the married love of your life. Be faithful to your spouse and take responsibility to bring up children in loving, stable and nurturing environments.

7. Take special care of the planet’s soil, air and water. Reduce wasteful consumption by reusing and enjoying more of what you already have, recycling everything you can, and by relying less on forms of  energy that pollute the atmosphere and waste scarce resources. 

8. Don’t harm your body with tobacco, illegal drugs, or other harmful substances. Take personal responsibility for your health by eating right, exercising every day and maintaining a good level of emotional and spiritual well-being. The best kind of national healthcare is one in which each citizen first takes responsibility for maintaining their own good health.

9. Honor your parents, grandparents and all aging and dependent persons. Care for them as you would want to be cared for yourself, and don't simply abandon them or assign them to government funded nursing homes in their old age.

10. Avoid all forms of media that promote pornography, denigrate women, enflame bigotry and racism and glorify violence--and make sure to protect children from these destructive influences. Spend less time with TV, movies, video games and the Internet and more time in wholesome interactions with real people.

With God’s help, we could truly make ours a great country and the whole world a better neighborhood. And in the process we could save untold billions in law enforcement and court expenses, in health care costs, and in  prison and social service programs. 

Best of all, none of the above would require special legislation or an increase in tax dollars, only more personal responsibility by people like you and me.

The above "speech" is adapted from a July 11, 2011 blog post. 

What You Can Do For Your Country

In times like these, here’s the kind of speech I would love to hear from politicians, teachers, presidents and preachers everywhere:

My fellow Americans, the only way a country can become truly great is for its citizens to become truly good. So in the spirit of John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you...” here are ten good things you can do for your country:


1. Become friends with people who are different from you. Respectfully share good things from the diversity of your cultures, traditions and faith convictions.


2. Be generous with your neighbors in need. Government programs must do their part, but each of us needs to volunteer more of our time and resources to help those less fortunate across the street and around the world.


3. Live a life of honesty and integrity. Show up on time at your work or school every day. Do your share and more. Never defraud your workers, employers, government agencies, insurance companies, or any other persons or institutions.


4. Obey all legitimate laws, and work to change unjust ones. Be law abiding not just for fear of being caught but simply because of who you are and the good example you want to set.


5. Respect all life from the womb to the tomb. Honor the unborn, and help spare the already born from the ravages of abuse, hunger, disease, war and poverty.


6. Save lovemaking for the married love of your life. Be faithful to your spouse, and take responsibility to bring up children in loving, stable and nurturing environments.


7. Take special care of the planet’s soil, air and water. Reduce wasteful consumption by reusing and enjoying more of what you already have, recycling everything you can, and by relying less on forms of  energy that pollute the atmosphere and waste scarce resources.


8. Don’t harm your body with tobacco, illegal drugs, or other harmful substances. Take personal responsibility for your health by eating right, exercising every day and maintaining a good level of emotional and spiritual well-being.


9. Honor your parents, grandparents and all aging and dependent persons. Care for them as you would want to be cared for yourself.


10. Avoid entertainment media that promote pornography, denigrate women, and glorify violence--and make sure to protect children from their destructive influences. Spend less time with TV, movies, video games and the Internet and more time in wholesome interactions with real people.


With God’s help, we could truly make ours a great country and the whole world a better neighborhood. In the process we could save billions in law enforcement and court expenses, in health care costs, and in prison and social service programs.


Best of all, none of the above would require special legislation or more tax dollars, only more personal responsibility by people like you and me.  

With Tongue Firmly In Cheek, I Announce My Candicacy For President

I would at least have considerably more living space

With ever more people from all over running for the highest office in the land, I've given some thought to throwing my own Amish hat into the ring.  ;-)

Seriously, I do already have a speech prepared that I could use in my campaign, as follows:

My fellow Americans, the only way a country can become truly great is for its citizens to become truly good. So in the spirit of John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you...” here are ten good things you can do for your country:

1. Become friends with people who are different from you. Respectfully share good things from the diversity of your cultures, traditions and faith convictions.

2. Be generous with your neighbors in need. Government programs must do their part, but each of us needs to volunteer more of our time and resources to help those less fortunate across the street and around the world.

3. Live a life of honesty and integrity. Show up on time at your work or school every day. Do your share and more. Never defraud your workers, employers, government agencies, insurance companies, or any other persons or institutions.

4. Obey all legitimate laws, and work to change unjust ones. Be law abiding not just for fear of being caught but simply because of who you are and the good example you want to set.

5. Respect all life from the womb to the tomb. Honor the unborn, and help spare the already born from the ravages of abuse, hunger, disease, war and poverty.

6. Save lovemaking for the married love of your life. Be faithful to your spouse, and take responsibility to bring up children in loving, stable and nurturing environments.

7. Take special care of the planet’s soil, air and water. Reduce wasteful consumption by reusing and enjoying more of what you already have, recycling everything you can, and by relying less on forms of  energy that pollute the atmosphere and waste scarce resources.

8. Don’t harm your body with tobacco, illegal drugs, or other harmful substances. Take personal responsibility for your health by eating right, exercising every day and maintaining a good level of emotional and spiritual well-being.

9. Honor your parents, grandparents and all aging and dependent persons. Care for them as you would want to be cared for yourself.

10. Avoid entertainment media that promote pornography, denigrate women, and glorify violence--and make sure to protect children from their destructive influences. Spend less time with TV, movies, video games and the Internet and more time in wholesome interactions with real people.

With God’s help, we could truly make ours a great country and the whole world a better neighborhood. In the process we could save billions in law enforcement and court expenses, in health care costs, and in prison and social service programs.

Best of all, none of the above would require special legislation or more tax dollars, only more personal responsibility by people like you and me.

The "speech" is from a July 11, 2011 blog post.

On second thought, I think I'll just keep preaching all of the above as a citizen of the worldwide and everlasting "kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ". Presiding over only the executive branch of a nation with only 5% of the world's population just doesn't seem challenging enough.

Day Seven Of Christmas--Pray For The Healing Of The Nation

The nation is in deep trouble.

While many US citizens experience material prosperity and still enjoy the blessings and freedoms afforded by the Constitution and Bill of Rights, there are many moral and social ills in the nation that should be of great concern:

- Polarization, animosity and divisions are increasingly evident everywhere. Disagree with me and you are my enemy.

- There is a sharp decline in our respect for truth. Misinformation and outright lies are accepted as somehow OK.
http://www.dnronline.com/opinion/viewpoint/fake-news/article_a91c402c-ddb4-5260-831c-853a879de1f0.html#comments

- Our annual military budget more than exceeds that of the next ten highest nations combined.
https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2017/03/does-new-proposed-budget-make-us-safer.html

- Our rate of incarceration is by far the highest of any nation in the world.
https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2017/01/four-sound-ways-to-reduce-incarceration.html

- Our abortion rate, while in decline, is still unacceptably high, and nearly 40% of our births are to  unwed parents. https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2015/04/all-life-is-precious-conversation-with.html

- Some 13,000 immigrant children are being held in detention.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/12/us/migrant-children-detention.html

-  Over 70,000 people in the US each year are dying as a result of opioid addictions.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis

- The gap between the very rich and the very poor is widening.

Meanwhile, here are ten things you can do for your country: 
https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2013/10/repost-ten-things-you-can-do-for-your.html

Text of Closing Words of Kennedy's Last Speech

A handbill circulating in Dallas just prior to Kennedy's assassination

November marks the 50th Anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination, an event I clearly remember. I recently ran across the following excerpt of timely closing remarks he had prepared for an evening State Democratic Committee meeting in Austin on the day he was assassinated:

"... this is a time for courage and a time for challenge. Neither conformity nor complacency will do. Neither the fanatics nor the fainthearted are needed. And our duty as a Party is not to our Party alone, but to the nation, and, indeed, to all mankind. Our duty is not merely the preservation of political power but the preservation of peace and freedom.

"So let us not be petty when our cause is so great. Let us not quarrel amongst ourselves when our Nation's future is at stake.

"Let us stand together with renewed confidence in our cause -- united in our heritage of the past and our hopes for the future -- and determined that this land we love shall lead all mankind into new frontiers of peace and abundance."

You may also want to read http://harvyoder.blogspot.com/search?q=ten+things+you+can+do+for+your+country