[Mary-Ann]

I know that John F. Kennedy is highly respected among African Americans. Someone once even suggested to me that his assassination was a result of his efforts on the part of civil rights. Yet he has been quoted as making a highly offensive, bigoted remark. Shortly before assuming the Presidency, Kennedy told a friend, ‘I’m going to keep the White House white.’ Lyndon Johnson was the President who signed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act and probably a lot more. Yet I have gotten the sense that he is not nearly as respected as Kennedy. Why not? Kennedy is respected, maybe even revered, in spite of having made at least one really repulsive remark. But some have questioned whether Donald Rumsfeld was fit to hold a Cabinet position in the Bush administration for merely remaining silent when Nixon made such a remark. Why let Kennedy off the hook, but hold Rumsfeld responsible for his silence?

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Name : Mary-Ann, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 45, City : Manistee, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Housewife, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jennifer31028]

I’d wager that what John F. Kennedy *did* is highly respected among *most* people. I don’t think black people revere him any more or less than anyone else, and would be interested in knowing on what information you base your premise. Even if your premise has some basis in fact, I have trouble relating it to the statement that he supposedly made(this is the first i’ve heard of it). By today’s standards, Abraham Lincoln would practically be considered a Nazi if his personal beliefs were known. Yet people who really understand revere him because of what he *did*, not for his personal sensibilities. As far as I know, Donald Rumsfeld has no specific connection, for good or ill, with the black community at large, save the fact that we are Americans, and thus part of his constituency.

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Name : Jennifer31028, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 31, City : Saint Paul, State : MN, Country : United States, Occupation : Non-profit, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[C. Phillips]

Given the period at which Kennedy lived, his civil rights efforts are great accomplishments. Kennedy was not let off the hook by blacks but instead, his actions to help are weighed more heavily given the social climate. Also, one who helps (even a little bit) when it is a great struggle tends to be looked at more favorably than one who helps a little bit when they could easily have done more.

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Name : C. Phillips, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : lupus, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 25, City : New Orleans, State : LA, Country : United States, Occupation : university student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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