Visit to Dallas, Texas, USA

By Karema Akifah Saleh, Editor of Iqra! Newspaper

I visited Dallas just recently, the city where President Kennedy was assassinated. I didn’t think much of going to the famous Dealey Plaza, but our host insisted that we find this location. As numerous calls were made to secure good directions, my mind started to go back in time. I had never visited this landmark, nor had I thought to do so. We spent about 15 minutes looking for Main and Elm St. At this point my heart began to race and my curiosity grew stronger and stronger as we came near. I have seen that famous video depicting the President driving with the governor of Texas a thousand times. The moment I saw the famous Texas School Book Depository I knew this outing would have a major impact on me in some way.

I insisted on going to the museum on the 6th floor of the Texas School Book Depository. This was a rare opportunity I could not pass up. We opted for the audio tour and secured our headphone devices and immediately when up to the 6th floor. It was surprising to find so many people there both young and old. I guess we were all trapped in our own personal space watching and listening to the audio tour. I immediately felt as if I entered the 60’s. It was mesmerizing to hear president Kenney’s famous speeches. I soon realized why so many people loved him. There was an emotional tension in the air. People of all races adored this president. I began to appreciate what decent strong leadership was really about. I can not recall a single president in my lifetime, having this type of effect on so many people. There were a few great leaders of that era silenced by bullets - President Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. , Malcolm X and also Robert Kennedy. I began to ponder and asked myself “why does America kill so many great leaders?”

The audio tour presented a vivid picture of the events of the day leading to the assassination of the President. We viewed various documentaries. I watched the reaction of the crowd all displaying a rather a solemn silence, especially the older crowd. I wished my mother could have walked me through this tour and share he own personal memories of this point in time. I knew she would say something like “I remember exactly where I was, and what I was doing when President Kennedy was assassinated.
The audio tour presented a vivid picture of the events of the day leading to the assassination of the President. We viewed various documentaries. I watched the reaction of the crowd all displaying a rather a solemn silence, especially the older crowd. I wished my mother could have walked me through this tour and share he own personal memories of this point in time. I knew she would say something like “I remember exactly where I was, and what I was doing when President Kennedy was assassinated.

I began to be distressed when I thought about today’s political leaders, and how divisive politics are these days, where American politician care more about their Party than matters of importance to the nation. It is so distressing, so sad. What happened to real men of integrity in politics, what happened to dignity and the sense of true service? There was no point in trying to compare President Kennedy to President Bush. It was like comparing caviar to a chilidog. It was like trying to fit a square peg into a circle.

I became angry when I began to ponder the utter chaos and evil of this world. The never ending thirst for power and control by any means necessary by the elite who really run things. The bold and satanial murder of a decent and just leader in broad daylight, so unapologetically, so brutally. I thought about all the problems of today and realized not much had changed since Kennedy’s assassination In fact, it is much worst. How long will American people play the fool to the lies of evil men?

I, like so many could not believe that Lee Harvey Oswald killed the President alone, latter I did not believe he killed him at all. How could the people of the day believe the lies the Warren Report obviously covered up? The famous assassination video wasn’t released until 2 years after President’s death, just like the video of the bombing of the Pentagon will not be released until after the election. If the government didn’t have anything to hide, why would they keep so much from the public?

It doesn’t surprise me that many people are making comparisons of the investigation of 9/11 with the Warren Report. It even dawned on me that the 9/11 Commission Report was flawed and full of unanswered questions, omissions and misleading conclusions just like the Warren Report. I thought to myself are we really free in America? I recalled one of President Kennedy’s speeches where he talked about government secrecy and how our government should be open to judgment by the people. So profound, so chilling, it was as if he was talking from his grave.

Imagine a President with vision, a President with hope and real compassion for democracy, freedom and respect today. Why did this nation go war in Vietnam? Over 60,000 dead soldiers and many more Vietnamese people died. Would we be the house slaves of Israel today, a government who cares little about American or the American people, and who only care about what benefits them? Kennedy was one of the few and only Presidents that protected American interest first and did not dance to the beat of the Israeli drummer

I wondered as my tour ended, what President Kennedy would say today had he seen this great mess the Neo Cons and Zionist zombies have gotten us in. I am so sure he would have taken this nation info a war on false pretenses. Where are the real men with a soul and a backbone who serve this nation? Why are so many politicians prostitutes of special interest and slaves of AIPAC (Jewish lobby). What happened to integrity? I am not suggesting President Kennedy was a perfect person, but he brought so many people together. Can you remember a president so hated by a few, but so loved by many Black, White or Red. I suggest some of these so called leaders of today go online and listen to a few of Kennedy’s speeches which were as profound yesterday, as they are today.

Copyright Karema Akifa Saleh