Comments on: The (R)enaissance, Part 2 http://travisthornton.net/2008/06/09/the-renaissance-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-renaissance-part-2 Documenting history as it happens. Fri, 04 May 2012 04:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Travis http://travisthornton.net/2008/06/09/the-renaissance-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-217 Travis Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:46:43 +0000 http://travisthornton.net/?p=102#comment-217 <p>I don't intend to make replying to my own posts a trend, but I thought this one heeded some follow-up attention. The picture attached of Kennedy with Khrushchev was taken at the Vienna Summit of 1961. Above this picture, I stated, "He (Kennedy) demonstrated a strong, unbending will that ultimately kept our country safe during our most dangerous time. He also sat down to negotiate with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, and held his ground while doing so."</p> <p>This is not to say the meeting at Vienna went well, at least in the traditional sense. Both men made threats of war over Berlin. Kennedy was shocked by Khrushchev's aggressive tone. Khrushchev was used to negotiating with Eisenhower, and viewed Kennedy as a kid. Of the meeting, Kennedy is quoted as saying, "He beat the hell out of me."</p> <p>Nevertheless, this historical meeting was considered productive in the sense that Kennedy showed that the US would not bend to the looming pressure of the Soviets on issues such as containment, Indochina, and Berlin; therefore, I stand by my previous statement. At the same time, though, the meeting could be viewed as damaging to our relationship with the USSR at a crucial time, leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis, because there was no final reconciliation in discussions. This is why I found it necessary to follow up: I think diplomacy must always - always - end on a good note to be deemed a success. Days of negotiation mean nothing if they end sourly. </p> <p>A great man on a hill once said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." As my preacher said this morning, "Peacemakers should not be confused with peacelovers." Indeed, the Prince of Peace himself said, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Making peace takes an ethical approach, strong will and firm action; enjoying the peace takes no action at all. Just some things to keep in mind as we deal with nations such as Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, and China, and throughout the 2008 election season.</p> I don’t intend to make replying to my own posts a trend, but I thought this one heeded some follow-up attention. The picture attached of Kennedy with Khrushchev was taken at the Vienna Summit of 1961. Above this picture, I stated, “He (Kennedy) demonstrated a strong, unbending will that ultimately kept our country safe during our most dangerous time. He also sat down to negotiate with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, and held his ground while doing so.”

This is not to say the meeting at Vienna went well, at least in the traditional sense. Both men made threats of war over Berlin. Kennedy was shocked by Khrushchev’s aggressive tone. Khrushchev was used to negotiating with Eisenhower, and viewed Kennedy as a kid. Of the meeting, Kennedy is quoted as saying, “He beat the hell out of me.”

Nevertheless, this historical meeting was considered productive in the sense that Kennedy showed that the US would not bend to the looming pressure of the Soviets on issues such as containment, Indochina, and Berlin; therefore, I stand by my previous statement. At the same time, though, the meeting could be viewed as damaging to our relationship with the USSR at a crucial time, leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis, because there was no final reconciliation in discussions. This is why I found it necessary to follow up: I think diplomacy must always – always – end on a good note to be deemed a success. Days of negotiation mean nothing if they end sourly.

A great man on a hill once said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” As my preacher said this morning, “Peacemakers should not be confused with peacelovers.” Indeed, the Prince of Peace himself said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Making peace takes an ethical approach, strong will and firm action; enjoying the peace takes no action at all. Just some things to keep in mind as we deal with nations such as Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, and China, and throughout the 2008 election season.

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