November 2013 marks the 50th
anniversary of the death of John F.
Kennedy—a sad occasion for Massachusetts and for all who admired his
example of vigor, intelligence and dedication to the greater good.
While President Kennedy is
not here to see it, I believe he’d be proud of how Massachusetts has evolved into
a world-class beacon for innovation and entrepreneurship by embracing and
adapting enduring traditions, while setting a course for the new century.
Attending the 2013 MassTLC
unConference last week, it struck me that JFK would have been impressed
by the creative thoughts and ideas, diversity, optimism and generosity shown by
the gathering’s 800+ enthusiastic attendees.
As a native Californian and
Silicon Valley refugee who first came Boston for a college education and who’s
lived in Massachusetts for 30+ years, MassTLC’s exceptionally excellent #unCon
reassured me more than ever that …
Massachusetts is the best place in the world in
which to live and work-- to start, run, and grow a technology business!
Interestingly, the current
and future state of Massachusetts was presaged in how Kennedy perceived our Commonwealth
a half-century ago.
 |
| John F. Kennedy, U.S. Representative and Senator, President of the United States and unapologetic booster of Massachusetts leadership and innovation |
In his oft-quoted 1961 “City Upon a
Hill” speech, then-Senator and President-Elect John Kennedy spoke
eloquently about the state he called home, evoking the memory of John Winthrop
and other courageous pilgrims who came to Massachusetts in 1630 in search of
freedom and opportunity.
Kennedy commented “we are setting out upon a voyage in 1961 no less
hazardous than that undertaken” by Massachusetts’
first migrants and quoted Winthrop’s exhortation to his fellow Massachusetts
residents:
"We must always consider,
that we shall be as a city upon a hill
—the eyes of all people are upon us."
—the eyes of all people are upon us."
Kennedy’s eloquence stands
the test of time, with words that ring as true today as when he spoke them some
five decades past.
Consider these excerpts from
his address:
“The enduring qualities of Massachusetts—the common threads
woven by the Pilgrim and the Puritan, the fisherman and the farmer, the Yankee
and the immigrant…. are an indelible part of my life, my convictions, my view
of the past, and my hopes for the future.”
“Courage—judgment—integrity—dedication these are the historic qualities
of the Bay Colony and the Bay State.”
of the Bay Colony and the Bay State.”
"For what Pericles said to the Athenians has long been true of this
commonwealth:
'We do not imitate—for we are a model to others,' "
'We do not imitate—for we are a model to others,' "
From Plymouth Rock to Kennedy’s New Frontier; and from the industrial revolution born in the mills of Lowell and Waltham to the thousands of 21st century knowledge workers who now contribute to what Boston Globe HIVE and Globe columnist Scott Kirsner describe as Massachusetts’ “Innovation Economy”-- our Commonwealth truly does set a good example for others around the world to follow.
 |
Pam Burton, Partner at Accelent Consulting (who recently returned to Mass from CA)
ponders which sessions to attend at @MassTLC 2013 unConference |
And while Big Papi’s
“F&$@g” eloquence doesn’t compare to Kennedy’s, our world champion Red Sox
deserve to be included in Wikipedia definitions for teamwork, endurance and
spirit. Similarly those of us who
work in the local tech sector would do well to imitate the New England
Patriots’ example of guts, hard work and collaboration.
Two other JFK quotes fit
this theme and point us where we need to go:
“Change
is the law of life.
And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
“Things
do not happen. Things are made to happen.”
Massachusetts: Together, let’s keep making it happen!
###
Click here to listen or download an MP3 recording
of JFK’s 1961 "City on a Hill Speech" in its entirety
of JFK’s 1961 "City on a Hill Speech" in its entirety
Tags:
MassTLC, unConference, innovation, entrepreneurship, Massachusetts, technology,
Boston, Silicon Valley, John F. Kennedy, Red Sox, New England Patriots, Scott
Kirsner, Innovation Economy, Boston Globe, Patrick Rafter
**This original Patrick Rafter article was initially published as a "guest' post on the blog of the Mass Technology Leadership Council on 1 November 2013, online at
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