Ask Not What Your Country Can do for You

In 1961, John F. Kennedy gave his inaugural address. It was powerful. Much of it is still quoted today. Few out there have not heard this quote- “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”  This is one of many examples of antithesis from Kennedy’s address. . His primary audience was the United States public, the people at home (and the voters) who were the ones who could actually make a difference.  There was a second audience President Kennedy was addressing, and that audience was the world. Kennedy’s gave his inaugural address in the middle of the Vietnam War and the Cold War. The world was in a state of unrest, and Kennedy wanted all nations to come together, figure out their problems and find a way for peace. He used the rhetorical device antithesis in his speech, to drive home his points and cause the audience to think and ponder what he said. Listing, chiasmus and parallel structure were also used. President Kennedy used it to emphasis his purpose, which was to have peace in the nation and the world. He wanted to build the army so strong they would never have to use it. Using antithesis was effective, because people are more likely to remember catchy phrases, like “Let us never negotiate out of fear, but never let us fear to negotiate.” He uses antithesis to compare and contrast two ideas and unite them. This way, the idea sticks in our heads. It has a rhyming quality to it and helps us remember it more.

President Kennedy is appealing to both his audience, the United States public, by calling them to action without any offense. He tells the world that we as the United States are willing to negotiate for peace first, but we are willing to fight for our freedom still and the freedom of others. Why is President Kennedy’s inaugural address still relevant today? Despite his speech, some of these problems are still going on today. War is still happening. The world is still at unrest. He knew this and addressed this when he said, “All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days; nor in the life of this Administration; nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.” We need to hold on to this beginning and continue it.