"The Right Thing To Do"

Today is the 40th anniversary of the shooting of Senator Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968, following his win in that year's California presidential primary. He died of his wounds in the early hours of June 6, 1968. He was 42 years old.

Whether a fan of the man or not, any observer would likely agree that the death of RFK was a moment that changed the course of U.S. history.

RFK gave many notable speeches in his life. One of these occured exactly two year prior to his death on June 6, 1966. The venue was the University of Capetown in South Africa. His powerful remarks from that occasion are known as "Day of Affirmation."

Here is one passage:

We must recognize the full human equality of all of our people -- before God, before the law, and in the councils of government. We must do this, not because it is economically advantageous -- although it is; not because the laws of God command it -- although they do; not because people in other lands wish it so. We must do it for the single and fundamental reason that it is the right thing to do.

An aside: Rose Kennedy once said that RFK was the most religious of her nine children.