"We choose to go to the moon"

John F. Kennedy's famous speech regarding the space race caused quite a stir in the autumn of 1962. "We" - the American government and people - choose to do this 'not because they are easy, but because they are hard'.

Now if Buzz from Toy Story was more eloquent, he would arguably say something like this. The good of mankind, freedom, and liberty, this is what America strives for. It is important to revisit those times of aspiration and uncertainty, and never forget what history can teach us. Indeed what can JFK's story teach us?

JFK is arguably known for his speeches, his wife and his unfortunate assassination. Our historical memory has been so clouded by these outstanding features, that for the XYZ generation it is hard to envisage what sort of world it was like back then.

The world split into two, Capitalism and Communism created an unbearable tension across the world. Nuclear warfare on a global scale was said to be imminent. My great-grandfather - who passed away in the early 90's - left a little piece of history in his diary. One entry was entitled "World War III". Even for a quiet, unassuming man who had never left Ishikawa Prefecture, let alone Japan, the chills of the Cold War could be felt to such an extent that he felt it warranted comment.

The decade that gave us Lyndon Johnson's 'Great Society', the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement created an enormous amount of nervous energy in society. An energy which had to be released; if we're to all get nuked we might as well enjoy ourselves in the meantime. Cue the Beatles, Woodstock and the roots of Flower Power.

As it was then, society today offers many opportunities as well as facing many threats. One hopes that the armageddon of nuclear warfare has passed our generation by, and hopefully for good. But it is always good to look over your shoulder every once in a while and appreciate the rocky road of history in the last fifty years. Perhaps this is a good time to reflect - its not as if we can party like its 2007 - 2010 has been a year of sobriety and recovery, a chance again to think 'big' and aspire.

See relevant links:
JFK - We choose to go to the moon
(Skip to 8:35 in the video for relevant quote)
Guardian Article on the possible legacy of the Baby Boomers
Slate discussion on the state and fate of young people