President Kennedy encouraged in his inaugural address: "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." JFK also said "Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future." And quoting from scripture:
"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light." (Luke 8:16, ESV)
"But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed: and hid, that shall not be known." (Luke 12:2, ESV)
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32, KJV)
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12, KJV)
Please recognize how important is our country's appreciation of genuine "Free Speech" meaning that truth, as best understood, may always be safely and openly spoken to power, without fear of intimidation, even false arrest in response. By firm and effective exercise of First Amendment rights alone, Americans should be able to always ensure government attentiveness in redressing any grievance. Yet "Free Speech" is not free when constrained to out-of-the-way, unseen and unheard "Free-Speech Zones," rather it is truly free only when welcomed and raised up, even as if on a "Free-Speech Pedestal," reflecting a sincere intention shared by Americans that truth shall always prevail over either overt or subtle censorship.
This Sunday is the 73rd anniversary of events at Pearl Harbor, as prompted the last constitutional declaration of war by Congress and U.S. entry into World War II. Also on December 7th, at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. ("The Kennedy Center"), filming will take place of the annual "Kennedy Center Honors," as will then be delay-broadcast December 30th by CBS for an audience numbering, in the United States alone, of perhaps 20 million viewers.
One year ago, during filming of the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors, even quiet holding of a sign - calling for release of withheld records regarding JFK's assassination - adjacent to The Kennedy Center's main entrance, was precluded by security personnel and the U.S. Park Police, summarily threatening arrest and seizure of the sign if not immediately taken down or moved where it could not be seen.
Videotaping of interactions with those asserting authority was also suppressed by threats of arrest and seizure of recording equipment. Freedom of speech was forbidden from then and there occurring - where "truth" would with certainty have been heard and seen by "power," governmental and corporate officials together entering this public building, The Kennedy Center, by its main entrance, for an evening of celebration, honoring among the world's greatest performing artists and entertainers (Note 2:20-4:08 in below video).
Those ticketed to enter the main entrance of The Kennedy Center this December 7th, mostly arriving between 5pm and 7pm, are indeed the "one tenth of one percent," or even ".01%" of the most influential people in America, even the world; corporate CEOs, members of Congress, Supreme Court Justices - and, if as last year, even yourself, the President of the United States. And so during this brief moment in time, as shall be recorded by CBS television and soon broadcast, on December 30th, "power" will funnel through the main entrance of The Kennedy Center. Yet this year, will that "power" pass in proximity to inconvenient, even politically incorrect truths displayed by exercise of genuine "Free Speech," in full sight of network cameras, and hence - in only a few weeks - within the conscience-raising awareness of perhaps 20 million Americans? Will "Free Speech" be kindly received, even encouraged this December 7th, 2014? Will "the speaking of truth to power" constitutionally and respectfully occur in the several hours of filming for these 2014 Kennedy Center Honors? I hope, most emphatically - Yes!
For providence has granted that immediately in front of The Kennedy Center's main entrance, is what shall henceforth and always be immediately recognizable as - The Kennedy Center's very own "Free-Speech Pedestal!"
Indeed one of three cube-shaped marble or granite blocks originally intended, no doubt, to merely block cars from driving into the Hall of States, or allow waiting theater-goers to sit and rest; on this occasion , the center-most of those granite blocks shall - God, Kennedy Center security and the U.S. Park Police willing - be well employed to a highest and best purpose, reviving the understanding and acceptance of true and constitutional "Free Speech."
This Sunday, while peaceably standing upon this "Free-Speech Pedestal" - even providing that it be so labeled for the occasion - it is intended that held aloft shall be a sign, respective sides of which call for transparency on the two most consequential incidents of the past 50 years, JFK's murder and the events of September 11, 2001.
Each side of the sign will be periodically turned and made visible to those arriving and for recording by CBS of these 2014 Kennedy Center Honors. Any asserting authority need simply not preclude this full and effective exercise of the Constitution's First Amendment in a place and time well-ordained for achieving communication of these important truths among the powers and peoples of this world.
Also on December 7th, from about 4pm-11pm, as promoted even on the activist alert calendar of the Washington Peace Center (click here) a gathering of patriotic Americans shall occur on the public North Plaza of "The Kennedy Center, peaceably assembled in petition for: 1) An end to war and reining in CIA, as JFK sought to achieve; 2) Immediate release of all records still withheld regarding JFK's assassination; and 3) an end to the intimidation of official secrecy and the violence it perpetuates, bringing real transparency in governments everywhere.
These circumstances prompt my optimism that this December 7th, most distinctly in the context of "Kennedy Center Honors," shall yield a beneficial "New Pearl Harbor" of sorts, even - recalling the Czech Republic's peaceful 1989 Velvet Revolution" - a "Velvet Pearl Harbor - of Conscience." Not a date that will be remembered for violence, but of conscience awakened, an overcoming of cognitive dissonance and tension in American thought that has festered these 50 years. Deception and denial about two of the most defining, tragic events of the last half century, JFK's assassination and the events of September 11, 2001, must be overcome with truth and healing, and so by God's grace may this December 7th serve even as a necessary and effective awakening to reality that will preclude calls for retribution, but instead herald a new determination in pursuit of genuine transparency in governance, reconciliation and peace.
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