The two speeches do touch on similiar topics, and seem to take a similiar path. Eisnhower's speech didn't seem as inspiring, but did talk about some of the same ideas: "Together we must learn how to compose difference, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose." This statement is definently one that Kennedy agreees on, "Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations." Kennedy seems to lean towards the side of talking out the issues, but towards the end of the quote he seems to veer towards the side of war. He wants each nation to have the complete power to be able to destroy another nation if need be, and as a last resort.
Eisenhower talks about how he believes as a whole, our society needs to find a balance between the uprising industries and scientific findings with the smaller businesses in the world: "Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been over shadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields." As Eisenhower says this, Kennedy does believe that there should be a balance, but he doesn't seem to have as negative a view: "Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce." This quote compared to Eisenhower's quote seems to look at science in a differnet way. Kennedy seems to look at science as a way to discover the world and educate people, whereas Eisenhower believes it has taken over too much of American society and a balance is needed.
Kennedy really sticks to sorting out problems through disscussion and he seems to have a goal to help others: "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." This quote is really strong in the sense that if the U.S. (being the free state) cannot help the thousands of poor people, then it cannot save the couple of people in society that are wealthy. It shows how we must be able to do both, not one or the other because that is not possible. This idea of helping others, and liberty runs through both speeches. In Eisenhower's speech: "our basic purposes have been to keep the peace; to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity and integrity among people and among nations." As you can tell, both of these presidents kept the ideas of liberty and helping others as a part of their overall big goal.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow. Nice job, Mattie. Insightful and careful reading of both speeches and some inspired comparisons as well! Good work! One point of clarification. When JFK discusses bringing the power to destroy under the control of all nations, he's not endorsing nuclear warfare. Instead, he's promoting the idea that control over these deadly weapons should be placed in the hands of an international community and not used as methods of warfare. His actions during the Cuban Missile crisis demonstrate how strongly he desired to avoid nuclear war.
ReplyDeleteYou make some excellent points about science and its role in society. Eisenhower is famous in this speech for warning Americans about the power of the military industrial complex and the ability of this industry to trample the very liberties that we were fighting to protect. Both presidents seem to desire to put science on a different course than the one it adopted during the Manhattan Project. Kennedy in particular seems to want to return to the days when science was geared toward discovery and the good of society. He is after all the one who sets the American space race on its course toward the moon. Great work. I'm looking forward to your contributions to our discussion tomorrow.