Why It Matters
So why does it matter? If the blame can be laid solely at the feet of Lee Harvey Oswald, why does it matter if the world knows that an embarrassing accident caused the fatal head shot of our thirty-sixth president?
It matters because the truth matters. Kennedy himself recognized that in a free society, the idea of secrecy is repugnant, and truth is essential. Listen to his famous "Truth" speech at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaveaFTwhlg.
It matters because an environment of deceit and cover-up breeds more deceit and cover-up. If it’s okay to lie about the death of Kennedy, simply because it’s embarrassing, then it’s okay to lie about every misconduct of every elected official because those misdeeds are embarrassing. It’s not a National Security issue; it’s an embarrassment issue. As Americans, we crave honesty from out government, and should demand it when it’s clear the government is being less than honest.
The truth matters because our justice system is based on truth and evidence. When the government hides the truth, it undermines justice and has a detrimental effect on the people. I believe most people would rather be relieved to learn about the accidental shooting rather than continue to believe that the government is covering up the evil acts of a cabal of murderers.
The truth matters because we can learn from our mistakes. For example, if people knew how the AR-15 ended Kennedy’s life, then the love affair that many Americans have for this deadly weapon might diminish, and innocent lives would be saved.
The truth matters because it's healthier. Cover-up breeds paranoia. The head shot was an accident. Misguided government officials thought that the United States and indeed the world could not know the true nature of events, that the United States would never withstand the embarrassment should the truth come out about JFK. Nonsense. We've survived embarrassments like the Monica Lewinsky scandal, the Iran-Contra scandal, and many others. We've even survived Secret Service scandals. But the prevalent belief that the CIA, FBI, and Secret Service are organizations of murderers plotting the death of their own nation's president. Mistrust of government has reached epic proportions. Fear of the consequences of speaking up has kept too many voices silent. It's not healthy for individuals, and it's not healthy for a democratic government.
The truth matters because sanctioned cover-up breeds other cover-ups, and transparency of government is lost. When our nation's integrity is questioned, our position as a leader in the global community is weakened.
It's time to restore integrity to our nation, to acknowledge its mistakes and its accidents and move forward with a new policy of honesty and transparency. The government can start by admitting the truth about what happened on Dealey Plaza.
Kennedy himself had a few words to say on the subject of truth. The following two Kennedy quotes were used (ironically, in my opinion) in Gerald Blaine’s book The Kennedy Detail, at the beginnings of chapters 9 and 7, respectively:
To state the facts frankly is not to despair the future nor indict the past. The prudent heir takes careful inventory of his legacies and gives a faithful accounting to those whom he owes an obligation of trust.
-John F. Kennedy
The very word “secrecy” is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings.
-John F. Kennedy
The truth matters.
So why does it matter? If the blame can be laid solely at the feet of Lee Harvey Oswald, why does it matter if the world knows that an embarrassing accident caused the fatal head shot of our thirty-sixth president?
It matters because the truth matters. Kennedy himself recognized that in a free society, the idea of secrecy is repugnant, and truth is essential. Listen to his famous "Truth" speech at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaveaFTwhlg.
It matters because an environment of deceit and cover-up breeds more deceit and cover-up. If it’s okay to lie about the death of Kennedy, simply because it’s embarrassing, then it’s okay to lie about every misconduct of every elected official because those misdeeds are embarrassing. It’s not a National Security issue; it’s an embarrassment issue. As Americans, we crave honesty from out government, and should demand it when it’s clear the government is being less than honest.
The truth matters because our justice system is based on truth and evidence. When the government hides the truth, it undermines justice and has a detrimental effect on the people. I believe most people would rather be relieved to learn about the accidental shooting rather than continue to believe that the government is covering up the evil acts of a cabal of murderers.
The truth matters because we can learn from our mistakes. For example, if people knew how the AR-15 ended Kennedy’s life, then the love affair that many Americans have for this deadly weapon might diminish, and innocent lives would be saved.
The truth matters because it's healthier. Cover-up breeds paranoia. The head shot was an accident. Misguided government officials thought that the United States and indeed the world could not know the true nature of events, that the United States would never withstand the embarrassment should the truth come out about JFK. Nonsense. We've survived embarrassments like the Monica Lewinsky scandal, the Iran-Contra scandal, and many others. We've even survived Secret Service scandals. But the prevalent belief that the CIA, FBI, and Secret Service are organizations of murderers plotting the death of their own nation's president. Mistrust of government has reached epic proportions. Fear of the consequences of speaking up has kept too many voices silent. It's not healthy for individuals, and it's not healthy for a democratic government.
The truth matters because sanctioned cover-up breeds other cover-ups, and transparency of government is lost. When our nation's integrity is questioned, our position as a leader in the global community is weakened.
It's time to restore integrity to our nation, to acknowledge its mistakes and its accidents and move forward with a new policy of honesty and transparency. The government can start by admitting the truth about what happened on Dealey Plaza.
Kennedy himself had a few words to say on the subject of truth. The following two Kennedy quotes were used (ironically, in my opinion) in Gerald Blaine’s book The Kennedy Detail, at the beginnings of chapters 9 and 7, respectively:
To state the facts frankly is not to despair the future nor indict the past. The prudent heir takes careful inventory of his legacies and gives a faithful accounting to those whom he owes an obligation of trust.
-John F. Kennedy
The very word “secrecy” is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings.
-John F. Kennedy
The truth matters.