One country, one community

Morgan Rooney
MSMU Class of 2020

(7/2018) As Independence Day approaches, it is important to remember that Americans share many of the same goals. All Americans want to live what they believe to be good and happy lives. All Americans want to thrive. All Americans want to be a part of a country they are proud of. Americans may have different definitions of what it means to thrive, and what it means to achieve the common good, but ultimately, these are goals everyone in the nation shares. Sometimes it is difficult to see the similarities in a country with so much diversity and so much dissent. Regardless of the polarization rampant in today’s political culture, there is one thing we all have in common: we are all Americans who want the best for our country. The celebration held annually on the 4th of July represents this as well. Despite political alliances, differing beliefs, and varying cultures, Americans of all shapes and sizes gather to celebrate on Independence Day. Furthermore, Americans have unifying traditions on the holiday, from watching and lighting colorful fireworks, barbecuing ribs, and drinking a toast with friends and family.

When considering which presidential speech highlights what it means to create an American sense of community and unity, there was one speech that stood out to me in particular: the inaugural address of President John F. Kennedy. Although it was given 40 years ago in 1961, this speech remains one of the most famous speeches in American history. There is certainly a good reason for it.

This presidential speech was aimed not to a certain party or another, but to the country as a whole. Even the first line of the speech states that Americans "observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom". I believe that this opening line sets the tone of the entire speech because it challenges the audience to reconnect with the ideals of the nation, calling them to unity. The victory of the Democratic party in the 1961 election was not as important to President Kennedy as the freedom he hoped his nation would once again represent.

When reading just the opening of the speech, I am reminded of another presidential speech. In president George Washington’s farewell address in 1796, Washington addressed his opposition to the establishment of political parties. He stated that, while establishing political parties "may now and then answer popular ends," they would eventually "[destroy] afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion." Regardless of what any individual may believe regarding the place of political parties in our country, both good and bad, it is important to note that even though there is a division, it is the same nation in which we all reside. We are the "United" States of America, and we are, and will always be, united in the celebration of liberty.

The legacy of the forefathers is relevant in another part of Kennedy’s address in which he states that "we are the heirs of that first revolution," and "that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans." The use of the world "we" is the most important word in the phrase. Instead of saying that "I" will do good for the people or "I" will carry out the legacy of those who established this country, Kennedy used "we." "We the People," for whom and on whom this nation was founded, benefit from the unity of our nation. All citizens of the USA are heirs of those who brought us freedom, and we should celebrate that.

President Kennedy spends the next section of his speech addressing the entire world on our desire for peace on Earth, but afterwards, he leaves the country and the world with some of the most notable words of his lifetime.

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country… My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

"Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you."

These words serve as a powerful and memorable conclusion to the speech. They readdress that unity which has already been a prominent part of Kennedy’s speech. Furthermore, they are a call to action. They remind Americans that the state of the nation is in our hands, and that America must not only serve its own good, but the good of humanity as a whole. We must all work together to make this country a great place to live in, and all must participate in the spirit of true democracy.

Something that Mount St. Mary’s University supports and frequently holds discusses in lectures and presentations is "Civil Society". The Mount holds high standards for its university community. I have personally attended lectures on topics facing America today, such as civil rights, immigration, and the welfare of inner-city communities. These talks opened my eyes to several different ways that citizens of the United States can promote the common good for people who are struggling to the nation we share. One of the solutions the speaker highlighted was opening and funding of schools to promote education for all in the hope that a good education would bring many out of poverty. Another showed the positive effects of a community garden on people in the inner city, so that they may have access to fresh, local produce. There are so many ways community members can support each other, and Kennedy’s speech encourages me to reflect on that.

No matter which political party you support, or whether or not you believed that John F. Kennedy was a good president (or even a good person), his inaugural address contains wise words that the modern United States should abide.

Read other articles by Morgan Rooney