JFK

Forty two years ago today a nation lost its innocense. When John Fitzgerald Kennedy was gunned down in Dallas America was brought kicking and screaming into the reality of the modern world.

I was only four years old at the time. Despite the dearth of childhood memories the long weekend that followed stands out in my mind.

My mother not unlike most women her age was a greatly admired President Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline.

When he was assassinated her world was rocked to its core. For four days she shut down and was glued to the television. I remember because for four days I was not allowed out of the house. We even ate our meals in the living room which was never allowed in our house.

She cried along with the nation when John saluted his fathers casket.

She cried when along with the nation when taps was played at Arlington.

She was shocked along with the rest of the nation when Lee Harvey Oswald was gunned down by Jack Ruby at the police station.

John Kennedy was president in an era when our heros were allowed to remain larger than life. Adults understood that everyone had faults but no one expected those faults to play out in the living rooms of the nation.

Today John Kennedy would probably lose in an election for president. Rather than except him as Arthur in Americas Camelot the press and the bottom feeders would find great joy in tearing him down.