Words to Inspire us.

Whenever I read again these words  of the speech that John F. Kennedy made during his Inaugural Address I am filled with hope and a yearning that our world will be better for having leaders who can not only articulate what they fell but also have the courage to make it happen...here again part of that speech that should inspire us to do what needs to be done in Malaysia...but before we get to Kennedy some words from our own Tun Razak.

 “Jangan kita semata mata memandang apa faedah yang kita boleh dapat daripada Negara tetapi kita mesti memikirkan apa kah perkhidmatan dan pengorbanan yang boleh kita berikan kepada negara” Tun Razak.

 

Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You speech
. Inaugural Address by John F. Kennedy - January 20th 1961

 Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

 

The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe - the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. 

 

So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

 

All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. 

 

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shank from this responsibility - I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. 

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. 

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. 

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.