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Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr And Jfk

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy were great men, there is no doubt about that. These men gave life to the country, to a cause, and to the world. They brought people together, setting aside the differences of humankind in order to create unity. Both of these giants in history caused great things to happen and teaching wonderful lessons. However, their similarities and differences really shine through when one reads King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and Kennedy’s inaugural address. Dr. King spoke on behalf of the people, especially those afflicted by racism and collective hatred. In his speech, he is firm, determined, and diligent in his mission. Throughout his speech, King used symbolism to portray his ideals to the people. For example, during his speech he drew the listeners’ attention to the Lincoln Memorial, …show more content…

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a strong speaker. He spoke in complex analogies in order to get his point across, such as the “bad check” analogy aforementioned. In contrast, John F. Kennedy took grandiose, magnificent, out-of-this-world ideas and turned them into simple, easy-to-understand phrases. For example, in yet another speech given at Rice University, Houston, Texas, President Kennedy simply said, “We choose to go to the moon.” He didn’t go into specifics, nor did he intend to. He said those words, and it was enough to make the hearts of those at home thump with pride in their country. Another major difference between the two was their audiences. President Kennedy addressed the nation and the world. He spoke of America’s purpose in the world and how he believed that, working together, all nations could prosper. On the other hand, Dr. King spoke to those afflicted by social injustice, specifically African Americans. He was not concerned with the world at large, but focused his attention on the concerns and issues of the people of the United

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