Writing words of wisdom

Theodore Sorensen -- best known as a speechwriter for President John F. Kennedy -- died today at age 82. His best known work, of course, is the 1961 inaugural address that he crafted for JFK in 1961. Although so much of the speech is cloaked in the Cold War, its basic humanity is as true today as it was nearly 50 years ago; read Sorensen's words now, and hope our leaders take heed tomorrow:

To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required -- not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.