[Sherman Logan]

In his 1961 Inaugural Address, President John F. Kennedy said, “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

I think it should be noted that there is little conservative about this sentiment, in the American sense of the term.

American conservatives do not build their lives around promoting their country.

It is not a separate entity that is or should be the center of an American's life. That's state worship, and it verges on fascism.

Which is not to say the country doesn't sometimes require defending against attack.

JFK was plagarizing Cicero here. The Romans did worship Roma, in a very literal way.

[kearnyirish2]

“I think it should be noted that there is little conservative about this sentiment, in the American sense of the term. American conservatives do not build their lives around promoting their country.”

Kennedy’s comment must be taken in the context of the times; the war in Vietnam hadn’t yet been fought and lost, and our cities weren’t welfare hatcheries yet. It was still more or less a WASP country with opportunities, in which most people were pulling in the same direction. I’m sure Keenedy couldn’t imagine at the time what depths we would sink to within a decade.