Reader comments: Kennedy plagiarized Aristotle
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ephraim hinckley | 4:48 a.m. May 19, 2008
yes lorraine, if only jfk had posessed the eloquence of dubya.
jr | 7:45 a.m. May 19, 2008
But it still carrys a great message, so what does it matter? What can we all do for our country? VOTE and clean out the cess pool
Comments continue below
fr1nk | 8:19 a.m. May 19, 2008
I thought something was wrong with this letter so I googled Aristotle and he lived from 384-322 BCE. Not the 5th century.
Lionheart | 8:36 a.m. May 19, 2008
To jr: We can all vote, as for cleaning out the cess pool, I'm pretty dubious these days, political leaders come from the pool of the populace and in general reflect that pool. That's why changing regimes in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan is so difficult. The leaders actually reflect their countries culture and mentality and sensibilities. Brutal leaders-brutal people. Unfortunately in this particular phase of our Republic, we get the leaders we deserve.
Mike Richards | 9:27 a.m. May 19, 2008
Lorraine,
I'm having a very hard time finding Aristotle's quote. I've Googled several sites that have lots of his quotes, but nothing even remotely similar. I would have thought that most sites would show the two speeches, side by side.
Would you be kind enough to give more information so that the rest of us can read his speech in full?
I'm having a very hard time finding Aristotle's quote. I've Googled several sites that have lots of his quotes, but nothing even remotely similar. I would have thought that most sites would show the two speeches, side by side.
Would you be kind enough to give more information so that the rest of us can read his speech in full?
Ernest T. Bass | 9:38 a.m. May 19, 2008
That's it, lets dig him up and shoot him again.
After 1500 years? | 9:41 a.m. May 19, 2008
That's not plagiarism, that's recognition.
It doesn't matter who said it first. What matters is that it should be said MORE OFTEN.
There's a certain irony in JFK saying those words, when his vice president later expanded the Welfare State!
It doesn't matter who said it first. What matters is that it should be said MORE OFTEN.
There's a certain irony in JFK saying those words, when his vice president later expanded the Welfare State!
wrz | 9:42 a.m. May 19, 2008
If you think about it, this is really funny coming from a Democrat... whose goals include providing more and more government controlled services, taking more more and more control of our lives... and collecting more and more taxes to pay for it.
Lewt | 10:03 a.m. May 19, 2008
Is there a particular reason for this item (it isn't an "issue") to come up now? What's the target? Kennedy or our collective education in the classics?
uh oh | 10:11 a.m. May 19, 2008
We'd best find that Aristotle quote and quick!! If not, then Lorraine might lose her excuse to be cranky at a President who lived FORTY FIVE years ago.
Thomas | 10:33 a.m. May 19, 2008
I'm pretty sure it wasn't Aristotle who was the source of the "Ask Not" quote.
RangerGordon | 1:15 p.m. May 19, 2008
Did Kennedy deliver that speech in Greek? I thought it was in Bostonian ...
l | 1:19 p.m. May 19, 2008
If Aristotle did say such a thing, the copyright on it has long expired. Any idea or creation more than about 100 years old or so are in the public domain, which means it is no longer copyrighted, besides the fact that you lack standing to challenge it.
For that matter, Kennedy's use of the phrase in his inaugural address would also not be copyrighted, since he used it while being paid by the public to do his job. So anyone can use it all they want without having to cite a source.
For that matter, Kennedy's use of the phrase in his inaugural address would also not be copyrighted, since he used it while being paid by the public to do his job. So anyone can use it all they want without having to cite a source.
Thomas | 1:54 p.m. May 19, 2008
I -- You're conflating copyright and plagiarism. They are not the same thing.
Copyright is a property right protected by law. Plagiarism is an ethical issue. It is absolutely not the case that you can plagiarize public-domain intellectual works. You absolutely do have to cite your sources -- whether or not they're protected by current copyrights -- if you don't want to be sanctioned.
Copyright is a property right protected by law. Plagiarism is an ethical issue. It is absolutely not the case that you can plagiarize public-domain intellectual works. You absolutely do have to cite your sources -- whether or not they're protected by current copyrights -- if you don't want to be sanctioned.
try again Lorraine | 1:58 p.m. May 19, 2008
Let me guess, you got your information from Fox News.
Anonymous | 2:52 p.m. May 19, 2008
There are only so many word combinations. Just because two people come up with the same combination doesn't prove one plagerized the other.
Thomas | 4:22 p.m. May 19, 2008
"Try again" -- Nope. Guess again. You must get your information from MSNBC.
Charles | 5:01 p.m. May 19, 2008
If only the Democrat Party actually lived up to those words....one can dream, right?
And for the Repubs the first 6 years of Bush they decided to become Democrats and just not change their party affiliation...
Obama wouldn't be caught dead saying this.
Hillary has already told us she will do everything for us, using our money.
McCain, whatever...
So for all of you liberals, answer the question....What can you do for your country and not have your country do for you?
As for 2 people coming up with that same statement centuries apart, the odds are not good that they would...yet you seem to be pretty good believers of the unbelievable...
And for the Repubs the first 6 years of Bush they decided to become Democrats and just not change their party affiliation...
Obama wouldn't be caught dead saying this.
Hillary has already told us she will do everything for us, using our money.
McCain, whatever...
So for all of you liberals, answer the question....What can you do for your country and not have your country do for you?
As for 2 people coming up with that same statement centuries apart, the odds are not good that they would...yet you seem to be pretty good believers of the unbelievable...
Hey Chuck | 8:06 p.m. May 19, 2008
I agree that the odds of two people coming up with the same statement centuries apart seems remote. Nonetheless, we know kennedy said them. Who else did? No one is coming up with an aristotle version.
You want a statement not only plagiarised but also horribly inappropriate to the situation? How about 'mission accomplished'. Maybe even 'heckuva job'.
You want a statement not only plagiarised but also horribly inappropriate to the situation? How about 'mission accomplished'. Maybe even 'heckuva job'.
Thomas | 8:27 p.m. May 19, 2008
Finally unjammed my memory. It was Cicero, not Aristotle.
Charles | 8:52 p.m. May 19, 2008
to Hey Chuck...just answer the question my friend? What are you liberals going to do for the country and not have the country provide for you?
Going to be pretty hard to answer since you think the government is your mom and dad; handouts for everyone....
I knew no one would answer the question....same with Barack Hussein Obama...won't answer the question...
Going to be pretty hard to answer since you think the government is your mom and dad; handouts for everyone....
I knew no one would answer the question....same with Barack Hussein Obama...won't answer the question...
It's realative | 9:15 p.m. May 19, 2008
The only memerable quote from Bush was: "Mission Accomplished!"
Mark | 10:09 a.m. May 23, 2008
Charles,
I'll bite – I'll answer your question, "What are you liberals going to do for the country and not have the country provide for you?"
Mainly, we are trying to stop Bush and other money greedy republicans from destroying our country, our international community, and our quality of life.
For the record, Bush has promoted giving hand-outs (you just got one) while the democrats have promoted helping our citizens in need.
Of course, Bush's hand-out is really just a cheap bribe for popularity that you actually paid for out of your own pocket -- and you paid extra to market the costly idea to yourself too. You sound like you fell for it – Sucker. :)
I'll bite – I'll answer your question, "What are you liberals going to do for the country and not have the country provide for you?"
Mainly, we are trying to stop Bush and other money greedy republicans from destroying our country, our international community, and our quality of life.
For the record, Bush has promoted giving hand-outs (you just got one) while the democrats have promoted helping our citizens in need.
Of course, Bush's hand-out is really just a cheap bribe for popularity that you actually paid for out of your own pocket -- and you paid extra to market the costly idea to yourself too. You sound like you fell for it – Sucker. :)
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Kennedy's statement is really not that unusual for many politicians to have said in different times in different contexts. But that does not mean any one of them plagiarised another. The sentiment is a profound political idea even though it may not be unique.
Stop the ad hominems! You are only showing yourselves to be cavil little minds in search of anything that can be turned into a cast of negativity on someone you don't like. It's a poor approach.