This article by Tim Russert renders me mute.
“Let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” –John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1961
I was ten years old when I heard those words. They still resonate with me nearly a half century later. Am I doing God’s work? Is being a journalist my vocation? How does my faith influence my judgment as a reporter? Should it? Are the demands of my chosen profession leaving enough time for my responsibilities as a son, brother, husband, father and friend?
(snip)
One particular day provided some clarity. September 11, 2001. I don’t
think the English language has yet found the words to describe the pain and
anguish we felt that day. And yet we learned much about each other. The bravery
of the first responders who went up the stairs of burning buildings. The heroic
selfless souls on United flight #93. The patience of tens of thousands of
drivers who left the devastated areas in an orderly way.I have not honked my car horn since September 11 as a gesture of respect
to all of them.
Considering Russert chose to invoke 9/11, it would seem a different passage
from John F. Kennedy might have been more appropriate. After what we've seen
in Iraq maybe “not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American
weapons of war” would have sufficed.
However, given all the religious intrusion into politics, I like this one better.
And I offer it as a person of deep faith.
I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute–where
no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to
act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote–where
no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference–and
where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from
the President who might appoint him or the people who might elect him. – President
John F. Kennedy (September 12, 1960)
Comments are closed.