The problem with tyranny is that people never admit to it while they're doing it. No leader ever gets up and says, "Hey guys, today I'm going to kick off my oppressive, dictatorial reign of cruelty." That would be so handy.
Instead we need others to point out tyranny when they see it. People who stand up and say, "Hey guys, I don't know if y'all noticed, but that over there, that is tyranny and I'm not cool with it."
That's exactly what Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech is doing. He is announcing to the world that everyone should get really offended by the tyranny happening right under their noses.
Questions About Freedom and Tyranny
- Compare and contrast political tyranny with ordinary bullying.
- Did Kennedy do enough by pointing out the tyranny of communism, or should he have done more to stop it? Why or why not?
- Is it fair to for a country with a history of slavery and a lack of civil rights for minorities to discuss freedom and tyranny around the world?
- How might communist leaders react to being called tyrants?
Chew on This
If communism were correctly enacted according to Marxist theory it wouldn't have resulted in tyranny, but would have brought far more freedom than that enjoyed in the U.S. today.
People who speak out against evil are the world's true heroes, making Kennedy an especially important historical figure.