Clarification/Follow-up by chekhovToo on 05/22/04 8:07 am:
Hello excon,
Care to elaborate as to why you think JFK is the greatest?

Clarification/Follow-up by excon on 05/22/04 8:57 am:

Sure, Chek:

He didn't read polls - he lead. He was visionary. He was charismatic. He inspired me.

I blindly followed him to Cuba, then to Viet Nam, and I would have followed him anywhere.

excon

Clarification/Follow-up by XCHOUX on 05/22/04 2:03 pm:
er: Guess you know nothing about the 1920's and 1930's and the great depression! DECENT people were sleeping on park benches; America was floundering.

Clarification/Follow-up by bal317 on 05/22/04 9:49 pm:
As to the way I answered, saying not a one.
Right after the signing of the Emancipation, Texas withheld the information to the Slaves for 2 extra years, so the real Freedom day for Blacks is June 19, called Juneteenth Day Celebration.
Not one single President ever said, No Hate groups allowed in the USA, putting an end to still terrorising Blacks and other Minorities, all because the whites still hold what they seem to want to and that is a way to instill fear to the many different cultures.
Government felt so good also about racism still being activated so much they put in place, Thurogood Marshall, and just as a reminder to Minorities they play the black and white footage of his racist Programs before he entered into Parliment.
We have always had a sick, out of control Society that host fear, disgrace, and unjustice in which no President has ever said, this won't be tolerated anymore, this is the Land of the Free, not part time but full time.
How many people realize there is a Black National Anthem? Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Or the many Inventions created by Blacks that many use today, some rights stolen so the Blacks would not prospor.
Many argue, why stay here, here is a wonderful response.
Written from the authors Waldon/Johnson.
One thing a lot of people wonder, why they don't see alot of Black people singing "Star Spangled Banner, many of us feel it's not our Anthem. On Sept 13, 1814 Francis Scott Key being held by the British, wrote the poem. In 1931 it became the National Anthem.
The problem, the words of the poem did not express the feelings of Black People.
As in 1814 Blacks were not considered citizen's. And could only be counted as 3/5's of a person. We were not in the Land of the Free, or the American's of that song. Being told we live in America and should be proud, yes we live in America and have rights, but do not always have the oppurtunity to exercise those rights. If not for slavery, Blacks may very well be in Africa right now learning traditions and respect for the earth, instead of learning that ignorance justifies hate. Here we learn that in America, I can be anything I want to, except maybe President.
We sign our Anthem as it expresses the struggle of Black people in America, paying tribute to all who fought for our Freedom.
You see, the Government, nor the Presidents ever sat back on their own and said, even tho they so rightfully knew people were being mistreated and misused, let's stop this crap. No the people of color had to fight with their lives sneaking around like animals.
America, Government, Presidents fair, not on their own merit, all they ever passed was done by the ones of color that had the guts to give up their lives and draw attention to a matter that all whites of this Country knew about specially the Presidents.
And the only recognition that is done by certain Presidents is just a happenstance, when they were in Office that so much behind the sceens was done, that they had no choice, so why not be a hero for the day.
People need to wake up and realize, America was built on illegal misdoings to so called American Citizens, who fought for every thing they have and get, by still facing horid hate, and disrespect so much Schools were afraid to show the color Black ment nothing good, subliminal messages of White always meaning good, that's why no Fairy Tales with Black Princess's or Kings.
I could go on and on, but you all know and if you don't you don't choose to open your eyes and if a tear doesn't come out from all the mistreatment then how can anyone worry about People who live out of this Country when we don't seem to care about the ones that live right here.
bal317

Clarification/Follow-up by chekhovToo on 05/22/04 11:38 pm:
Hi bal317,

Thank you for you follow-up response. I think I misunderstood where you were initially coming from, so the fault is with me and not you. I am aware of the inequality, although not the extent of it, as I do not reside in the United States, so I am ignorant of most of its history as it pertains to African American citizens. I would be grateful if you could recommend some good books so I can learn more.

Regards,

chekhovToo

Clarification/Follow-up by XCHOUX on 05/23/04 1:09 pm:
TO ALL: For those who do not appreciate the importance of Harry Truman please consider that he implemented the Marshall Plan and America engaged on a path to rebuild Europe especially Germany and Japan and change their cultural values from Militaristic to Democratic. How huge is that, dudes??

As for those who wring their hands about the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, how many American GIs would have died invading Japan...they would have fought to the last person. Remember, they started the war--Pearl Harbor, dudes. Their country today is a magnificient example of democracy and peace. So, the Germans.

Clarification/Follow-up by tomder55 on 06/10/04 11:46 am:
Found this survey done in 2000 .

Rankings Federalist Society - The Wall Street Journal Survey on Presidents

Clarification/Follow-up by chekhovToo on 06/10/04 7:16 pm:
tomder55, thanks for the link - it's a good list indeed.