silver lining

every cloud has a silver lining.

Monday, May 07, 2007

Kennedy's Speech













Let me try to write down Kennedy's inaugural speech.
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[Vice] President Johnson, Mr. Speeker, Mr. Chief Justice, [President Eisenhower,] Vice President Nixon, [President Eisenhour,→×] [Vice→×] President Truman, Reverend Clergy, [Fellow→fellow] Citizens[, →:]

We observe today[, →×] not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom[.→--] [Symbolizing →symbolizing] an end, as well as [a] beginning[.→--] [Signigying→signifying] renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and [All mighty→Almighty] God the same solemn oath[,→×] our [forebear→forebears] prescribed nearly a century and three[-] quarters ago.

The world is very different now. For [men hold→man holds] in his motal hands the power to abolish all forms of human povety[,→×] and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our [forebear→forebears] fought are still at issue around the [world. The→globe -- the] belief that the rights of [men→man] come not from the generosity of state, but from the hand of God.

We dare not forget today[,→×] that we are the [heir→heirs] of that first revolution. Let the word go forth[,→×] from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans[,→--] born in this century, tempered by war, [diciplined→disciplined] by [a] hard and bitter peace, proud of [our] ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing [of] those human rights[,→×] to which this [country→nation] has always been committed, and [to which] we are [commited→committed] today[,→×] at home[,→×] and around the world.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and [the] success of liberty.

This much we pledge [--] and more.

To those old allies[,→×] whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United there is little we cannot do[,→×] in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do[,→--] for we dare not meet [any→a powerful] challenge at odds and split [assunder→asunder].

To those new states[,→×] whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word[;→×] that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away[,→×] merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. [We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom --] [And→and] to remember that [,] in the past, those who foolishly sought power[,→×] by riding the back of the tiger[,→×] ended up inside.

To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe[,→×] struggling to break the [bond→bonds] of [the→×] mass misery, we pledge our best [effort→efforts] to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required[,→--] not because the [Communist→Communists]may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save [the few] who are rich.

To our sister [republic,→republics] south of our border, we offer a special pledge[.To→: to] convert our good words into good deeds, in a new alliance for progress, to assist free men and free goverments[,→×] in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot [become the prey of] [by→×] hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know[,→×] that we shall join with them to oppose aggression [and→or] subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

To [the→that] world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope[,→×] in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support[. →-- to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective, to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak, and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.]

Finally[,] to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request[;→: that] both sides begin a new the quest for [freedom→peace], before the dark [power→powers] of destruction[,→×] unleashed by science[,→×] engulf all humanity[,→in planned] or [accidental] self-destruction.

We dare not tempt them with weakness. [For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be emplyed.]

But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our [present] course[. Both→-- both] sides overburdened [by] the cost of modern weapons[. Both→, both] rightly alarmed by the steady spread of [the] deadly [atoms. Yet→atom, yet] both racing to alter [the→that] uncertain balance of terror[,→×] that stays the hand of mankind's final war.

So let us begin a new[,→--]remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore [the→what] problems unite us[,→×] instead of belaboring those problems which devide us.

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals [for the inspection and control of arms, and bring the absolute power] to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean [deapth→depths], and encourage the arts and commerce.

Let both side unite to heed, in all corners of the earth, the command of [Isaah, "to →Isaiah -- to "] undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free".

And[,] if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, [let both sides join in creating a new endeavor-- not a new balance of power, but a new world of law-- where the strong are just, and the weak secure, and the peace preserved.]

All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days[. Nor→; nor] in the life of this Administration[. Nor→; nor] even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.

In your [hand→hands], my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, [every→each] generation of Americans has [been] summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. [Graves→The graves] of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

Now the trumpet summons us again[,→--] not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need[,→--] not as a call to battle, though [enbattled→embattled] we are[,→--] but a call bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, ["] rejoicing [in] hope[,→;] pacient in tribulation, ["] a struggle against the common [enemy→enemies] of man[;→:] tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

Can we forge against these enemies[,→×] a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility[,→--] I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people[,→×] or any other [generations→generation]. The energy, the faith, the devotion[,→×] which we bring to this endeavor[,→×] will light our country and all who serve it. [And the glow from that fire can truly light the world.]

And so[,] my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you[,→;] ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow [citizen→citizens] of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of [men→man].

Finally, wether 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. With a good conscience[,→×] our only sure reward, with history[,→×] the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth[,→×] God's work must truly be our own.
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Whew!
There are so many mistakes, but it's okay! I tried! Good job!

The problem is how to keep this...