• Originally published November 20, 2009 at 7 p.m., updated November 21, 2009 at 10:35 p.m.

To those of us who were old enough to grasp the terrible reality of Nov. 22, 1963, it must seem today like it could not have been 46 years ago that our president was murdered in full view of a large crowd on a Dallas thoroughfare.

Again and again, we have suffered through the 8 millimeter film of Abraham Zapruder, which graphically reproduced those awful moments in our consciousness. And conspiracy theories abound as to who fired those fatal shots, and how many killers were there, and why they did it.

But remembering it is still too painful, too overwhelming in its sadness. It just couldn't have been so long ago.

But the relentless march of time has brought us a long way over the years. Strangely, however, instead of being carried to a new place, we seem to have come full circle to the days of the John F. Kennedy presidency. The problems today are no different than they were. Our enemies may have new names, new locations, but America's goals have not changed.

That can perhaps be best illustrated by two speeches that Mr. Kennedy never got to deliver. They were to be given at the Dallas Trade Mart and the Texas state Democratic convention later that fateful day.

"We in this country, in this generation, are - by destiny rather than choice - the watchmen on the walls of world freedom," the president would have said. "We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of 'peace on Earth, good will toward men.' "

And he issued a biblical warning to us - one that is as pertinent today as it was in 1963. "For as was written long ago: 'Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.' "

Are we still vigilant? Are we still the watchmen on the walls of freedom? And do we still ask the Lord to keep our city?

The last words of the last speech he ever planned to make were a challenge to Americans, and the challenge is timeless.

"Let us stand together with renewed confidence in our cause - united in our heritage of the past and our hopes for the future - and determined that this land we love shall lead all mankind into new frontiers of peace and abundance."

Mr. President, we have not forgotten you. And we are still trying to live up to your vision.

 

Jim Bishop is former Advocate executive editor and resides in Victoria.

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