JFK in Retrospect

I suppose the audience present at that time, why, even the world as a whole, went into a rapture of sorts when JFK uttered those words about not asking what the country can do for you. Two generations later, in a more placid state of mind, I feel that there is more to that statement than he cared to mention.

What he really meant, I reckon, was that if you are one to do something for your country, the very best it will do for you in return is drape your coffin with its flag, and give you a three volley salute, and that is if you die before you do too much good.

If one the other hand, you are one to do something to your country, then, there is much indeed that your country can do for you.

Nothing sums up my sentiment as today's editorial by P.Sainath in the Hindu does.

In retrospect it seems, that what JFK left out of that speech was prescient of what became of him and his brother.