"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
THIS IS BY
*******[John F. Kennedy]
2006-10-12 12:14:18 · 20 answers · asked by BALANCER 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
Basically, how can you contribute to society? It does not mean the country per se, but the morality you can do for your neighbor. It can be as simple as giving money to the homeless or as great as saving a man from a burning building. Basically, make where you live a comfortable place to live.
But it can be taken to a patriotic sense and mean go fight in some war.
2006-10-12 12:25:21 · answer #1 · answered by Mitchell B 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It means that you should be quicker to ask for an M-16 than a welfare check. It means that you should vote or keep your mouth shut. It means that you should blame Al Qaeda for 9/11 and not any administration past or present. It means that if a Category 5 hurricane is bearing down on your hometown, you were too dumb to not heed the evacuation orders, and FEMA hasn't arrived yet, your time might be better spent filling sand bags than crying to a news reporter. I don't see anything complex or hidden between the lines in JFK's words; I believe that he meant exactly what he said. I'm afraid that I can't say the same for a lot of Democrats (or Republicans, for that matter) today.
2006-10-13 01:10:52 · answer #2 · answered by Answer Master Dude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At the time, I think he was dealing with a lot of people who felt that because they had won a couple of wars, that the country was prosperous, and all the hard work seemed to be over, they could just sit back and enjoy things because somehow they deserved it and the country ought to deliver. He could see how dangerous that was, and how important it was to give those people a wake-up call.
2006-10-13 07:06:55 · answer #3 · answered by bh8153 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means rather than being a taker, be a giver. JFK uttered these words at a divisive time in the country and he was trying to stir up a national patriotic sentiment. In other words, do things for your country instead of asking so much from it.
2006-10-12 19:18:06 · answer #4 · answered by ShirlD 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't just enjoy the ride, don't just live off the fruits of others' labor, but do something, participate, work to make your country and society better for all.
OR if you ask the question in the dark of night and the "country" does not answer you then go on being a deadbeat loafer.
2006-10-12 19:22:49 · answer #5 · answered by Steve P 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It means that you shouldn't try to make others do things for you, but you should do things for the people in your country.
2006-10-12 19:16:19 · answer #6 · answered by Gilbert 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means don't rely on your country to solve all of your problems take an active part in your government and see what you can do.
2006-10-12 19:16:55 · answer #7 · answered by pixi_doll 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you kidding me.. it's a self explanatory quote.. don't ask your country for help perse, but offer your "services" to your country, and your fellow americans.
2006-10-12 19:18:31 · answer #8 · answered by Justin P 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If everyone would be a giver instead of a taker, then this country would be a better place.
2006-10-12 19:15:57 · answer #9 · answered by cowboys21angel 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
country is not soil alone; country means people; - rightly quoted by our Telugu poet by name Gurujada Appa rao.
so ask not what your country people done to you; ask what you can do to your people. so states the nation's growth in deed and spirit.
2006-10-12 19:22:06 · answer #10 · answered by prince47 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋