Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

karynnj

(59,935 posts)
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 09:24 AM Feb 2012

Kerry speech on South Sudan given in December

It is an interesting call to move beyond the anger and disputes and create a prosperous country. In it, he cites the Winthrop speech in a very different way than Reagan or Romney have. They spoke of it almost as bragging, he speaks of it as living up to high expectations on how they should live.


n 1630, my great-grandfather many times over led a journey across the ocean, fleeing persecution. And he gave a sermon on the deck of the Arabella that has been invoked by leaders as different as President Kennedy and President Reagan. John Winthrop talked about what it meant to be a “City upon a hill—the eyes of all people are upon us.” He knew that a historic moment had to be met with historic resolve because the world was watching.

Well today, all the eyes of the world are on South Sudan. The world is watching to see if this new nation will fall into the all-too-common sectarian conflict and corruption that some say is inevitable, or whether you can meet the loftier challenge of history and the dictate of your own aspirations—whether you will affirm your long struggle by making an even longer commitment to get to that better place.

Yeats wrote about those hinge points of human events when we can, as he said, “make hope and history rhyme.” This is your nation, but this is the world’s opportunity to match your hopes for all of history—and together we can stand together and make sure that what you do at this moment stands the test of history.

http://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/chair/release/senator-kerry-delivers-a-speech-on-the-situation-in-south-sudan
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Kerry speech on South Sudan given in December (Original Post) karynnj Feb 2012 OP
Good speech! JNelson6563 Feb 2012 #1
Yes, he would have! JDPriestly Feb 2012 #2
Yes he would have karynnj Feb 2012 #3
Thanks for posting ProSense Feb 2012 #4

karynnj

(59,935 posts)
3. Yes he would have
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 11:54 AM
Feb 2012

I think the years would have been incredibly tough - as there was so much bad already not stoppable, but he would have worked as honestly and well as he could.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»John Kerry»Kerry speech on South Sud...