JFK Reflection Questions

When we went to the JFK Museum I learned a lot of things that I did not know about JFK before going there. I didn't know that he really changed his views on Civil Rights when he got into office. During his campaign he was not really involved in the Civil Rights movement but when he got into office he really started to become involved and wanted to change many things going on. Also when we got to listen to him talking to the Governor it showed us how he dealt with certain issues. He was very calm and could understand that he was being lied too and that the Governor was not taking him serious. But he remained calm and was still nice to him. I did not know how involved he was with the NASA program either. The part of the museum with the moon landings and how much importance he put on getting someone to the moon first was really well showed. Even though he did not get to witness it happen.

The parts I found most interesting on the field trip were the pictures, real artifacts and all of the information. The pictures were really good because it lets you see what things actually looked like and the peoples facial expressions and everything. Also the real artifacts and things were very cool. The coconut shell that he actually wrote on was very interesting and I know a lot of people really enjoyed that. Also the way that things were set up and then a TV was playing the real thing let you get a feel for what it was really like when it was going on.

The only thing that I would suggest for future field trips to the museum would be more free time for us to walk around and go at our own pace to look at things and take everything in and not have it so scheduled. I was hoping to learn about the assassination but there was not really anything on it besides the videos of the funeral.

Overall I think that John F. Kennedy was a very good person and president. Because he was from around this area I think it makes him more appealing because you feel a sort of connection to him. Also the fact that he was a young guy with a family made him seem more human than some of the southern typical politicians that we are so used to seeing. Without him I believe that the country would be extremely different from what it is today. He influenced so many people and had so many ideas that were carried through by the people after him. I do believe that he should be considered one of the best presidents of all time too. I do because he seemed to do things the right way. Even though he somewhat sparked the Cold War nothing came of it. There was not actual fighting that took place. he was very smart about what to say. Also when he was in office he started many educational and medical programs that are still around today. The tax cuts that he did were very good and beneficial to many Americans at that time. Also the way that he dealt with the Civil Rights Movement was very good as well. He made sure that no matter what the laws that were put in place to end segregation were being held in place. Overall I think that John F. Kennedy should be considered one of the best presidents of all time because of the way he handled himself and the country at one of the most difficult periods of time in American history.