61-Years Since JFK
November 20, 2024
Entrepreneur & Author
“This Friday marks the anniversary of events that changed the world.”
——-
There is a public registry on the 6th floor.
Shortly after exiting the elevator and stepping onto the wooden planks of the restored warehouse – now a national museum – you will come across it as you seemingly step back in time. This November 22nd, at this hollowed location, you will be stepping back 61 years to the exact day. If you stop to read the remarks left by visitors – strangers from every walk of life – you can feel their pain which inescapably becomes sadness. People from all over the world have left remarks here. It is a vestibule to a cathedral of horror … the 6th floor of the Texas Book Depository.
I was five years old when President Kennedy was assassinated, too young to have perfect recall of the events. As a result, I am confident that my mind bounces between what are real memories and false recollections reinforced by endless film. Something I do vividly remember is the black and white TV screen we watched the funeral on which now almost seems prehistoric. Through that small screen came the haunting image of a rider less horse and sounds of muffled drumbeats both iconic parts of the solemn funeral procession. Perhaps he was too complicated a man to be an idol – too fraught with his many well document imperfections – nevertheless, I did placed him on that pedestal and to some extent still do. He had vision and imagination which are two attributes of incalculable value to an entrepreneur. His speeches were written and presented like poetry. He challenged us to be and do better.
November 22, 1963 lit a fuse that would have worldwide ramifications. What followed his death would be an escalation of troops into Vietnam, more assassinations and then the riots of the 1960s. A societal innocence was lost as we learned to distrust our government and America slowly fell from its own pedestal around the world. Perhaps in the long run, that mistrust was healthy but it came at a terrible cost. His generation has recently been described and coined by journalist Tom Brokaw to be “The Greatest Generation.” Is it true? Perhaps it is accurate. Or, on the other hand, is it more feasible that for a short period of time, the world viewed post World-War II United States as a beacon for positive change and freedom? Is it possible that – just as with Kennedy – behind the façade we were a nation burdened with as many issues and faults?
We recently moved to the Greater Dallas area. One thing we have learned since the move is that whenever out of town visitors join us one of the first things that they wish to see the the 6th Floor JFK Museum. It is amazing well preserved and with all the dignity one would hope for regarding the assassination of a president. Usually, someone will remark how much smaller Dealy Plaza is than they imagined. They will see the x-marks in the asphalt of Elm Street where President Kennedy was mortally wounded and reflect. It is an eerie place to stand.
It is fascinating and that 61-years later this event still serves as a watershed moment for several generations – most profoundly the Baby Boomers. The Assassination of President Kennedy may well be when many United States citizens stopped trusting their government. Maybe that distrust is a good thing – it certainly seems well deserved.
- To review other editions of our newsletter please see our website: GlobalCommonCents.com
- For more about my personal wonderings please see my blog: JeffCorbett.com
