Kennedy Society of Denmark
Purpose: Keeping alive John F. and Robert F. Kennedy’s inspiration
and philosophy of life, so that their good words can be translated into good deeds.

Profiles in Courage Award, 2017

TheThe Kennedy Society has decided to present for 2017 John F. Kennedy’s book
”Profiles in Courage” - as an award – to Amnesty International with this LAUDATION: Amnesty International has with its purpose worked with courage to“mobilize the world opinion” to “give common people a voice” with the purpose “to work for a world where the human rights are a reality for all.”

Those purposes are according to President Kennedy’s words in 1961 that we are “unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.” The founding and the efforts of Amnesty International are after the words of President Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

To protect the rights of men President Kennedy stated in his first speech to UN in 1961: “For in the development of the UN rests the only alternative to war, and war appeals no longer as a rational alternative.”And: “Let us call a truce to terror.” In his speech June 10, 1963 – to understanding between East and West, he said: “Our problems are manmade – therefore they can be solved by man.” In his speech to the United Nations September 20, 1963 he said: “The members of the organization are committed by the Charter to promote and respect human rights.”

Amnesty International’s purpose appeals to all human beings according to the words of Jacqueline Kennedy in 1964: ”John Kennedy believed so strongly that one’s aim should not just be the most comfortable life – but that we should all do something to right the wrongs we see – and not just complain about them… He believed that one man can make a difference – and that every man should try.” In accordance with his brother senator Robert F. Kennedy made this statement: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

Amnesty International’s work around the world is invaluable when it is about bringing up courageous information about weapons coming in the wrong hands, which increase the insults of human rights. The organization fights for freedom and justice all over the world and puts forward statements to the responsible governments when people are suffering without getting help and harmed without being defended. Amnesty International appeals to all of us not to stay in what the author Halfdan Rasmussen wrote in his poem “Not the executioner makes me afraid…” but what he called “the merciless world’s blindly carelessness.”s