John F Kennedy Learned Hand Analysis

Who can ever imagine a world without freedom? However, that is happening right now in some part of the world. Two of the greatest American speakers expressed their viewpoints on liberty through their speech, Learned Hand’s “I am an American Day Address,” and President John F. Kennedy’s “1961 Inaugural Address.” They both believe everyone has the right to obtain liberty, and encourage people to join in the fight for freedom.
John F. Kennedy and Learned Hand are very religious, they both believe that liberty was not given from the government, but from god. As Hand stated in his speech, “The spirt of liberty is the spirt of Him, who near two thousand years ago, taught mankind that lesson it has never learned but never quite forgotten.,” Liberty was a lesson that God taught the people.

However, Hand thought the people may not yet learn or understand the meaning of liberty, but it would always be remembered. As for Kennedy, he most definitely agreed on Hand’s belief in the origin of liberty. “For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life... the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hands of God.” Kennedy believed that God had power over all. Freedom was granted to the people, from God. Kennedy and Hands’ concept on liberty are very similar, that God has given the freedom of choice to the people. Based on Hand and Kennedy’s belief on the spirt of liberty, they worried that the government cannot ensure one’s freedom. For instance, Hand stated in his speech that “I often wonder whether we do not rest our hopes too much upon constitutions, upon laws and upon courts. These are false hopes... Liberty lies within the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitutions, no laws, no courts can even do much to help it.” Hand questions about letting the government way of obtaining liberty; he argues that the people should not fully rely on the government to protect one’s liberty. As for Kennedy, he believed a strong government is needed to defend the rights of their people, but it cannot be compared with power. “To those nations whom we welcomes to the ranks of free, we welcomes to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny.” Kennedy hoped for the newly developed colonies to guarantee that they take care of their people. Kennedy wanted the colonies to support and protect the rights of their people not controlling it with power. Both speakers have similar goals for the government, though Kennedy’s viewpoint was more in depth.
In both speeches, Kennedy and Hand both wanted the peoples’ voice to be heard, they encourage more citizens to stand up for their freedom.

Hand asked in his speech “In that spirt of liberty and of America I ask you to rise with me, pledge our faith in the glorious destiny of our beloved country.” During Hand’s time, America was in civil war, Hand wanted to refrain the country’s faith and unite the people. But Kennedy had a bigger goal, as he became the president of the United States, he wants to help all that is struggling to gain their freedom. “Let every nation know, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty...to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty... Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas.” Kennedy wants to improve the government so it can protect the rights of the people. Hand asked for people to be with him in the fight for their freedom; though, Kennedy placed a request for all nations to support the fight against

adversity.
Liberty is an important factor in everyone’s life, it is one’s freedom. John F. Kennedy and Learned Hands have very similar viewpoints on Liberty, that it is a right that God have given to each individual equally, everyone deserves to obtain Liberty. Hand’s and Kennedy’s purpose of their speech is to protect the liberty of their people. Their goals and ideas are very similar, though, Kennedy’s viewpoints on liberty further supports and elaborates upon Hand’s concept of the “spirt of liberty”. In Hand’s speech, he justifies his meaning toward the spirt of liberty, butKennedy’s speech specifies his goals on achieving Liberty and explained his action with details. They both reflect the importance of the freedom of choice. How can anyone imagine a world without Liberty?