Hunain Qaisar
Eng-102, Academic paper 2
Prof. Teddy Chocos
Dated: 7th July 2014
Diplomatic measures resolving human right issues by John F Kennedy
and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Renowned presidential leaders of early 60s and 70s John F Kennedy and Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto were strugglers of freedom who fought in favor of human rights to give the
minorities their legitimate position in their countries with determination. Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto’s presidential tenure in Pakistan lasted for two years; Dec 1971- Aug 1973 and
John F Kennedy became the 35th president of the United States Jan 1961 till Nov 1963.
Kennedy stood with the oppressed blacks against the racial discrimination on the other
hand Bhutto strived against the feudalism that enslaved the agricultural community.
These two leaders chose to dissolve the chaos of the oppressed diplomatically rather than
using physical measures such as strikes and rallies, as they believed this would worsen
the situation because I believe background aids as a motivation and understanding of
circumstances; as Bhutto belonged to a landlord background he could better understand
the nature of the feudalists and could more efficiently overcome the oppression and
Kennedy’s political background would have built an environment of diplomacy and as a
white person he could feel and visualize the racism against the blacks and could counter
attack it more effectively.
Both leaders emerging from different backgrounds; educational, political and business
were enthusiastic in nature and vigilantes against enslavers. Kennedy served the US navy
as a lieutenant, Kennedy’s family was multimillionaire as they were businessmen and
Kennedy’s father served as an ambassador to Great Britain, and Bhutto on the other hand
was from a landlord background, served as a barrister at Lincoln’s Inn at London. These
two leaders during their political career fought against the active human rights conflicts
with their own diplomatic ideas and personnel instincts based on their brought up, of
developing unity among the majorities and minorities, as visionaries they wanted to see
each of their nation to prosper and unite; Kennedy’s tactic of unity was Patriotism;
bringing the whites and blacks under one roof and Bhutto’s tactic was diplomatic reforms
to minimize land control by the feudalist and both leaders believed that a powerful post
can have an effect on a nation.
Racial discrimination against the black immigrants from Africa and other neighboring
countries, in the United States became a major practice by the whites especially in the
Southern and Northern ends even before the presidential tenure of Kennedy. White
people targeted the moral values of the blacks, restricted them from using public welfare
facilities such as voting rights, education, restaurants, health benefits. They burdened the
blacks on basis of color and as no legitimate citizens of United States and this was a
disruption to the social community as well as politically on the issue of majority and
minority. Feudalism on the other hand resulted from the war of independence between
India and Pakistan where the both powerful and educated immigrant people acquired land
irrespective of area and ownership from the existing people in the newly built Pakistan
and restricted the poor and weak from their share of land. This was also even before
Bhutto’s presidential tenure and this feudalism mainly targeted the agriculture sector of
Pakistan which that time was and even now is the core of economy; farmers/peasants at
that time before the industrial revolution were enslaved by the feudal lords and their
rights in the country were ruled by their lords as they were powerful within their
community and were an emerging power against the government.
As there was civil rights issue of blacks headline in United States during Kennedy’s
political campaign, it would have been difficult for Kennedy to guide the riots by
minority of the oppressed black alone as he was a white man himself and had no word
power over the blacks. In 1960, Kennedy chose to meet Martin Luther King Jr. who
governed the black community. I believe this was evident and effective because King was
the leader of the black community at that time in the United States, as a white and
political man Kennedy wanted to gain trust of the black people to eliminate the chaos of
racism, despite his the fact “King was not a Kennedy enthusiastic” (Kennedy and civil
rights Pg. 807) as he supported Vice President Nixon.
Later when Kennedy reinstated the racial concern, showed his determination to end
racism as once he will be President, at the end of the meeting where civil rights of black
as a question were discussed, in the article John F. Kennedy and Civil Rights: from
Congress to Presidency, author Stern reports King’s remarks to Chester Bowl (Kennedy’s
supporter) “ I was very impressed by the forthright and honest manner in which he
discussed the civil rights question. I have no doubt that he would do the right thing on
this issue if he were elected President”. A pact was made; King ensured black community
support to Kennedy whereas Kennedy vowed to eliminate this racial discrimination using
government’s legislation as a weapon. Kennedy now had power and control over the
black thus he could govern their movements such as strikes and rallies against racism and
act more diplomatically using law.
When Kennedy was elected as the president, very tactfully as vowed earlier, made
policies against racial discrimination thus leaving no loopholes for the chaos to ever
occur. Kennedy as president and on the most influensive government position introduced
Executive Orders of both housing and employment that are much more meaningful than a
presidential campaign. It was Kennedy’s decision and a strategy of a diplomatic leader
because in this manner the citizens of United States can be cautious, black community
will have shelter and work where there is a friendly environment compared to racial
discrimination, they will have freedom. I believe he made his best choice of eliminating
racism through government as a visionary, even he does not live long still he chose law,
rules and his legacy would protect the nation from such drastic and inhuman act in the
future. In article John F. Kennedy and Civil Rights for Black Americans author Gilbert,
quotes Theodore Sorensen’s remarks about courageous Kennedy “in placing himself at
the head of the [civil rights] revolution…”(Pg.386).
Through presidential post, persuasively in 1961 Kennedy ordered appointment and
recruitment of blacks in coastal guard services, housing administration, secretaries of
government official, member of Federal Trade commission, lawyers at Federal Bench,
supreme court justice, Dr. James Nabrit is remarking Kennedy’s work as in article John
F. Kennedy and Civil Rights for Black Americans “ President Kennedy has done more in
a few months to increase the respect and give prestige to Negroes than any President in
my lifetime.” I believe Kennedy gave the black community a sense of belonging that they
lacked and courage to be part of the country as legitimate citizens rather than immigrants
and this devotion of work as he himself felt rebellious against the racial discrimination.
Among the powerful actions of Kennedy against racial discrimination was establishing a
committee governed by him, “ Equal Employment Opportunity”, protecting civil rights of
the blacks on their work area in both government and non-government, this committee
monitored the federal government and its rules against racial discrimination that all
government contractor must follow, reviewing policies in the code of conduct and
enriching the anti-racism acts and rules. In article John F. Kennedy and Civil Rights for
Black Americans author Gilbert reports Government official, Morgan’s review on
Kennedy’s committee as “ Opportunity reported in 1963, for the first time, that there has
been a basic change in attitude on the part of most of the managers of American industry
and the heads of our responsible labor inions”. This choice of Kennedy was more
diplomatic and saved the black community for the future against racial discrimination, he
fulfilled his vision of uniting whites and blacks together and determined in his work.
Last but not the least Executive Order: Housing was Kennedy’s reflection of efficiency.
Appointing nation’s first Secretary of Housing, a black, Robert Weaver, Kennedy first
established the department of Housing and Urban Affairs to stand strong in the congress
and issued housing order in 1962. Necessary action against racial discrimination based on
nationality, color was to be taken by government officials in contracts of leasing, rental
and sale of property and finance, monitored by the federal government. This was a wise
move of Kennedy as proving shelter will give the black a sense of belonging in the
community.
On the other hand, different from nationality, religion and background, Bhutto was an
efficient leader to personally sense the feudalism and its requirement to end before
Pakistan is a wreck. Feudalism was a plague in the agricultural sector of Pakistan as it
was controlled by the strong and ruled the weak and poor. Landlords or commonly
known as feudalist gained power in the area and disrupted the agricultural aid to economy
of Pakistan. Bhutto I believe analyzed the feudalism and implemented diplomatic reforms
in oder to eliminate.
In article,Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and 'Eradication of Feudalism' in Pakistan
Author Ronald
quote bhutto’s basis of ceiling as “ at the same time, we have tried to preserve the
incentives for the continuation of agriculture as an attractive and profitable vocation for
the enterprising farmers”. Ceiling was a strategy by Bhutto in which he would lower the
area of land each lord owns, this way he would regain the extra land of the oppressed
from the lords and gently distribute among the relevant people.
Bhutto when became president introduced land ceiling reforms as like Kennedy he also
believed that a high position can make this feudalism end. He reinforced the feudalism
and against all the feudal lords, strict laws were introduced.
Bhutto also worked to end government corruption, because I believe he was aware that
the feudal lords who escape the law are being supported or backedup by the law itself, he
dim shed the corruption by high and strict orders by the courts.
Bhutto and Kennedy are almost the same people as they planned things after analyzing
the circumstances in their nation more personally. Both the leaders worked
enthusiastically against the anti civil rights movement. As leaders, their responsibilities
increased with power but they belived that the power itself is a big weapon to eliminate
issues on a larger scale.
Citation
John F. Kennedy and Civil Rights: From Congress to the
Presidency
Author(s): Stern, Mark Source: Presidential Studies
Quarterly, Vol. 19, No. 4, Foreign Policy, Human Rights, and Political
Alignment, 1789-1989 (Fall, 1989), pp. 797-823
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and 'Eradication of Feudalism' in Pakistan
Author(s): J.
Herring, Ronald Source: Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 15, No. 12
(Mar. 22, 1980), pp. 599-614 Published by: Economic and Political Weekly
John F. Kennedy and Civil Rights for Black Americans
Author(s): Gilbert, Robert E.
Source: Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 3, Presidents, Vice
Presidents and Political Parties: Performance and Prospects (Summer, 1982),
pp. 386-399
Published by: Wiley on behalf of the Center for the Study of the Presidency
and Congress
"Zulfikar Ali Bhutto." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 09 July 2014
"John Fitzgerald Kennedy." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 09 July 2014.