Today is January 20, 1961 and I am reminded of my first experience with the political scene 47 years ago.  It was January 20, 1961.  Ron and I, as newlyweds, lived in Washington, DC while he completed his tour of duty with the navy.  I had no experience with politics.  I wasn’t even old enough to vote.  But I knew this was an important day.  Little did I realize what the following 47 years would bring to the political scene and our country.

The day was cold but sunny.  Snow covered the ground.  President John F. Kennedy stood on the newly-built inauguration stand at the Capital. He raised his hand to take the oath of office.  And I was there.

 Times were different back then.  There was a large crowd on the Capital lawn but nothing like today and security was sparse.  We were able to stand close enough to watch and hear the proceedings with no problem.  We saw poet Robert Frost try to read the poem that he had written especially for the day, but blinded by the sun’s glare from the snow on the Capital grounds, he recited another poem “The Gift Outright” from memory instead. He began: “The land was ours before we were the land’s” and ended with “Such as she was.  Such as she would become.” 

When Kennedy spoke in his now familiar Boston accent, he said: “…the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage.”  His speech also included the challenge to “Ask not what your country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country.”

It was a moving speech given by a dynamic speaker.  It was one that we could have and should have learned from.  But as the future became the present, we entered into a war that could not be won and, even then, we failed to learn.    We’ve had a President resign rather than be impeached and another impeached but acquitted.  Our country has been attacked from outside forces and another President used that attack to trick the country into straying from the war in Afganastan, where the terrorists were, into invading a country that had nothing to do with that attack.  A refusal by our current President to recognize the potential threat to our country and the world from global warming because of large corporate financial supporters has led our Country and the world itself to the brink of destruction.

But there have been high points as the present unfolded into history as well.  The President, who replaced Kennedy when one of “this new generation of Americans” shot the popular President, signed the laws that gave all citizens equal rights.  Some of the health needs of our aging senior population was finally recognized with the formation of Medicare. 

Our Country is now entering another election cycle and another President will be elected.  As I think back to that eventful day in 1961, I wonder if the citizens of our country are wise enough to make the right choice and what the next 47 years will bring.  What will be the experiences of the “new generation” that is growing up today.  I don’t feel very hopeful.