JFK’s ‘Profiles in Courage’: Time for all Americans to re-read the book
Time has come to take a look into JFK’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, Profiles in Courage (1956) anew, which served as a clarion call to every American.
JFK had chronicled eight legendary senators in the book—John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Thomas Hart Benton, Sam Houston, Edmund G. Ross, Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, George Norris and Robert A. Taft. The book is not just the stories of the past but a book of hope and confidence for American future.
“My father’s heroes were men and women who were willing to risk their careers to do what was right for our country,” writes Caroline Kennedy, JFK’s daughter, in the book’s Introduction.
At a time when President Donald Trump is pushing the US and the whole world toward perdition, JFK’s book offers a moving, powerful and relevant testament to the “indomitable national spirit and an unparalleled celebration of that most noble of human virtues–courage”.
Robert F. Kennedy wrote in the book’s Foreword that “…what happens to the country, to the world, depends on what we do with what others have left us.”
From the time Trump was sworn in second time as the US President, his actions demonstrated a bizarre and eccentric mindset that is sure to spell doom not only for the US, but for the entire world. His conscience, personal standard of ethics, his integrity or morality, if at all–deserve outright condemnation. If the American people realize the devastating consequences of Trump’s presidency, they should take the cue from JFK’s book. The acts of courage described in the book must inspire the Americans to rise against this megalomaniac and loony.
Tragically, Trump’s second term is already more lawless and more authoritarian than any in the US history. Many of his actions are mind-boggling and heart-wrenching. Many seem powered by ignorance and incoherence, by capriciousness and callousness. With his desire to disrupt anything and everything, the President is ready to pulverize the very foundations of the US government and its democracy.
The most dangerous part of his agenda is his war against constitution— defying judges’ order, deporting people without due process, pardoning hundreds of January 6 criminals, and calling to impeach judges who have ruled against him.
Trump’s latest misadventure has been the global trade war after he has enacted a series of steep tariffs affecting nearly all goods imported into the US and which will cost ordinary Americans greatly.
JFK’s life and career has inspired millions of people around the world and shown the truth of the 7th US President Andrew Jackson’s statement: “One man of courage makes a majority”.
In this unfortunate state of affairs, it is high time Americans took a re-look into JFK’s book, got inspired and stopped bending their knees to Trump.
‘Profiles in Courage’: a thoughtful and persuasive book
