War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today.
Interpretation
War and peace are often viewed through the lens of societal values, where warriors are celebrated and conscientious objectors are undervalued.
In this quote, John F. Kennedy emphasizes that war is a persistent aspect of human society, and suggests that for true peace to be achieved, we must reach a point where those who refuse to engage in violence β the conscientious objectors β are held in the same high regard as those who fight in wars. This reflects a fundamental shift in societal values where peace and the choice of non-violence are revered as heroic traits rather than acts of cowardice, highlighting the importance of re-evaluating our perspectives on war and nobility.
In practice
In a speech advocating for peace, one could use this quote to emphasize the need for societal change in how we view soldiers and peace advocates.
The great battleground for the defense and expansion of freedom today is the whole southern half of the globe... the lands of the rising peoples. Their revolution is the greatest in human history. They seek an end to injustice, tyranny and exploitation. More than an end, they seek a beginning.
I had always enjoyed the title of Commander-in-Chief until I was informed ... that the only forces that cannot be transferred from Washington without my express permission are the members of the Marine Corps Band. Those are the only forces I have. I want it announced that we propose to hold the White House against all odds at least for some time to come.
I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children - not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women - not merely peace in our time but peace for all time.
I just received the following wire from my generous Daddy; Dear Jack, Don't buy a single vote more than is necessary. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay for a landslide.
Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.
Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.
Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible. We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be acheived unless we first establish peace within our own minds. We can send so-called 'peacekeeping forces' into areas of conflict, but peace cannot be oppossed from the outside with guns. Only by creating peace within our own mind and helping others to do the same can we hope to achieve peace in this world.
Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in the smoke of confabulation. There can be no peace on earth without the kind of inner change that brings man back to his "right mind." p. 31
I have many times asked myself whether there can be more potent advocates of peace upon earth through the years to come than this massed multitude of silent witnesses to the desolation of war.
In the hearts of people today there is a deep longing for peace. When the true spirit of peace is thoroughly dominant, it becomes an inner experience with unlimited possibilities. Only when this really happens - when the spirit of peace awakens and takes possession of men's hearts, can humanity be saved from perishing.
A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do is to enter into it.
Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.
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