If it was upto some members of forum they would be dwelling on his weaknesses. That is the only way they can justify their own existence. They see the deficiencies in them and are jealous of greatness in others.
"and are jealous of greatness in others"!!! Is this your superpower, to reach through the internet into our minds and pull out a diagnosis like this one?
If you wish to look only at the mythology, go ahead and do so, nobody is stopping you. But why do you resort to these cheap emotional pot shots at some of us who want to take a broader look at those who are elevated to "hero" status?
Yesterday was the 50th anniversary when JFK was shot. Everybody is talking about JFK legacy. Not all the talk is adoring love fest, and nobody here in the US expects it to be. There are hero-worshippers in the U.S., sure, and they want to look only at the myth. However, there are a lot of thoughtful people also, examining JFK's true legacy. Historians rate JFK as a mediocre president but one who captured the imagination of the common people for various reasons, not the least of which is that he was a young and charismatic leader cut down in his prime, not to mention the myth that surrounds his family.
But, if you peel off the mystic you will see that JFK was a pretty ordinary president. He came in and presided over the infamous Bay of Pigs invasion. He then unleashed CIA goons to assassinate Castro. He imposed American hegemony over Latin America by supporting coup after coup that installed brutal dictators in country after country in central and south America. He is the one who sent American troops into Vietnam which slowly but surely escalated, greased by American lies, and millions had to die.
JFK's role in averting the nuclear standoff with USSR is overblown to the stratosphere by the sycophantic hero-worshippers. The truth is Kruschev played an equal, if not more important role, in find a peaceful resolution. JFK held off the warmongering U.S. generals for that he deserves credit, but it was Khrushchev who found a way out for both sides to climb down. You will have to dig a little deeper to find this out, but of course those who want to look at only the myth can't be bothered with such a burden.
Even in this episode the American deception is never fully discussed, and therefore never fully understood and the myth continues and grows. The Americans had already invaded Cuba once and was constantly threatening Cuba with imminent invasion. CIA was working closely with the Cuban exile community in Florida to topple Castro regime. While at the same time the U.S. and NATO was encircling USSR with nuclear missiles pointed at it. This kind of belligerence was the reason USSR tried to give the same medicine to the US by placing its own nuclear missiles in Cuba. I don't condone or make excuses for this kind of tit-for-tat nuclear brinkmanship, but to paint USSR as the villain and eulogize USA/JFK as the beacon of freedom and righteousness is the result of myth-making machinery operating at maximum capacity.
JFK's domestic record is not rosy either. He served in the Senate during the same time Joseph Mccarthy embarked on his communist witch-hunt that came to be known as Mccarthyism. There were many who condemned Mccarthy's Gestapo-like tactics, but not JFK, he was his buddy. He dragged his feet on civil rights legislation because he did not want to take on the Southern Dixiecrats. He had MLK and other Civil Rights leaders bugged and spied on. Whatever positive action he took it was only because he couldn't duck the issue any more. He tried his best to get the March on Washington -- the one where MLK gave the Dream speech -- cancelled. When it became clear that the march was a success JFK sent a congratulatory note!!
JFK did inspire a lot of young people. He started Peace Corp that sent lots of Americans out to the so called third-world nations to work on projects that will benefit ordinary people. We don't talk about JFK everyday, it is only during some special occasions like this 50th anniversary we look back and take stock. As the adage goes, those who forget history are condemned to repeat it. It is not wise to put on blinders when we look at public figures who have been elevated to super hero status. It is not jealousy that makes us look at the broader picture, that is among the silliest things I have heard in this forum.
