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FOR ALL MANKIND William Bradford, speaking in 1630 0f the founding of the Plymouth Bay Colony, said that "All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulty and both must be enterprised and overcome with admirable courage". If this capsuled history of our progress teaches us anything, it is that Man and his quest for knowledge and progress is determined and cannot be deterred. The exploration of Space will go ahead whether we are in it or not. We need to be a part of it, We need to lead it…for the Eyes of The World must now look into Space, to the Moon and to the Planets beyond. Our leadership in Science and Industry, our hopes for Peace and Security, our obligations to ourselves as well as others, all require us to make this effort, to solve these mysteries, to solve them for the good of all Men. There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in Outer Space as yet… Its hazards are hostile to us all… Its conquest deserves the best of all Mankind. We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard. Because that challenge is one we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone and one we intend to win. J.F.K Rice University September 12th 1962
Photos - Nasa This speech motivated the nations to take Humanity to the Moon. Though the life of Kennedy has been viewed by many, as "controversial", his contribution to the Space Programme is paramount and is difficult to surpass. Those who are versed with the historic accounts of Kennedy & the Space Race, will know the level & depth of the political drive he was able to deliver. He was the man who, with a variation of this speech, was able to win the hearts of the American Congress and secure funding of a truly "astronomical" amount to place an American on the Moon. He inspired not only those of his own country, but people all over the World to dream, to think, to speculate ....plan, design, build.... He instigated whatever it took to "Make it So". The domino effect of this global effort created friendships, ties & bonds for millions of people worldwide and the product of such association, has proved in many ways, its benefit to all Mankind. To show my respect to Kennedy, I would have liked to have been able to compose a tribute, versed with all the gifts of his marvelous speech. I have (gratefully), been spared the challenge of trying to do so as I found such appropriate words within the eulogy that was delivered, ironically, by Edward Kennedy at the funeral of his brother Bobby. He quoted his young brother... "Some see things as they are and say .....Why? I dream things that never were & say....Why Not?" Such words are certainly reflective of JFK. The Eyes of the World DO look into Space, to the Moon....& to the Planets beyond.... We express our praise & gratitude to JFK ....& to those he inspired! BETANSKI
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