sixties+quotes

EKB- A man without a vote is man without protection.- Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson stated this quote in his State of the Union address on January 4th, 1965. Lyndon B. Johnson had always been sympathetic to the civil rights cause even when a Senator, seen in his refusal to sign the Southern Manifesto in 1956. In this quote, Johnson is expressing his intent to extend equal rights to blacks during his presidency. Lyndon B. Johnson was determined to become known for his work with civil rights during his time in office. Contrary to most Southern Democrats, Lyndon B. Johnson was sympathetic to those who were discriminated against as he had been as a poor country boy in his youth. The tormenting of his schoolmates in the past led him to fight against the oppression of others and thus fight against the oppression of blacks. The country was in a state of violent tension on the matter of civil rights, especially in the South. The slow and gradual changes made by Lyndon B. Johnson's predecessor, John F. Kennedy, did not seem like enough for the majority of Black Americans and tensions were rising. As the country became violent with riots and fighting, Lyndon B. Johnson was going to take action and it was his presidency that created one of the most influential sets of civil rights legislation in U.S. history. This quote made to the entirety of the United States was most definitely aimed towards the African American viewers, trying to make it clear that he was on their side and was going to take action. He was also speaking to those who believed he would not take action, just as the majority of presidents before him had not, and confirmed with this one statement in a nationwide address that getting African Americans the right to vote was going to be a major part of his administration. This quote is significant because it shows how Lyndon B. Johnson was willing to work against something despite his party and that civil rights were a defining part of both his presidency and his character.

SLW-- “the new frontier is here whether we seek it or not. . . . I believe the times demand new invention, innovation, imagination, decision. I am asking each of you to be pioneers on that New Frontier.” --John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy stated this quote in his inaugural speech in the election of 1960. Kennedy, a member of the Democratic Party, was a large supporter of liberal reforms. Kennedy was also the youngest elected president and the first Catholic president to be in office. In the quote above, Kennedy addresses his “New Frontier” campaign that signified his social and foreign reform policies. The time in which Kennedy was running for President largely affected his “New Frontier” campaign. Kennedy was very well aware of the impact of television in society and the debating tactics of former president Abraham Lincoln. Kennedy used this knowledge to portray himself as a healthier and more vibrant candidate for the Presidency than his adversary, Richard Nixon. Kennedy also understood the significance of space travel and the Soviet’s advancements in this field over the United States, with their success of //Sputnik.// The quote dictates that new invention, innovation, and imagination are necessary to spark technological advancements in the frontier of space, so that the US not only catches up to the Soviet Union but also reaffirms its dominance and power. Although Kennedy addresses his speech to all citizens of the US, the plea by Kennedy for people to support the New Frontier program is aimed at conservative adults in the US. Kennedy wanted to assure adults of the US that he did not want to forget the ideals of their forefathers but to understand that this new generation of citizens in the twentieth century faced different problems and required a new outlook on reform. Kennedy showed that a unified America, one in which everyone joined in the same effort, would help the US rise against communism abroad and create a rejuvenated nation. Kennedy promoted the ideals of democracy and freedom in his speech and asserted that the US was willing to do anything to protect these ideals. In his New Frontier program, Kennedy created a lower minimum wage, the establishment of the Peace Corps, and proposed many environmental measures. Republican Congressmen and other conservative members of society looked at his New Frontier program negatively and did not allow for the passage of many of Kennedy’s social welfare or civil rights programs. On the contrary, Democrats, the poor, African Americans, and the younger generation looked at Kennedy with great approval. Kennedy’s inaugural speech and his efforts in his New Frontier program were so significant because they helped spur the civil rights movements and technological and societal improvements of the 1960s and have had long lasting impacts in the US today.

GEB “Khrushchev reminds me of the tiger hunter who has picked a place on the wall to hang the tiger's skin long before he has caught the tiger. This tiger has other ideas.” ~John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a Harvard graduate born with an in-depth passion for history. After graduating, JFK published his first book, “Why England Slept,” that contained his thesis on the appeasement during WWII, later followed by “Profiles in Courage.” Serving in the Army and Navy, JFK was known for his dedication and actions that earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Medal after rowing a burned crewman to shore by his life jacket strap, despite a chronic back injury. In 1952, JFK joined the senate by defeating the Republican candidate, Henry Cabot Lodge. In 1956, JFK was nominated for Vice President but ultimately lost within the party, but gained national exposure. Then in 1960, JFK began his campaign for the presidency, running against Adlai Stevenson, the Democratic nominee in 1952 and 1956, and ultimately won, facing off only Richard Nixon in the election. Being the first and only Catholic President, JFK faced much criticism on his alliance to the Pope versus the United States. “I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party candidate for President who also happens to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my Church on public matters – and the Church does not speak for me.” Known for his sentiment and conciseness, JFK won the election by just a few votes and became the leader of the free world. At this time the Cold War was still waging on between the U.S. and USSR. Nikita Khrushchev had now been leading the USSR for a few years and was facing the newly elected President of the United States, something Khrushchev believed would lean in his favor. After their first meeting, Khrushchev believed that JFK was very intelligent, but weak. The fact that the USSR leader thought so little of him was a pressure point for JFK. This quote refers to the fact that Khrushchev thought he was dealing with a weak and non-aggressive opponent and the quote is JFK’s warning back to Khrushchev, countering that Khrushchev counted his eggs before they hatched. The significant of this quote is JFK is establishing his dominance and his aggressiveness with regard to foreign policies in the USSR. At this time the Berlin Wall had gone up, Khrushchev was starting the Cuban Missile Crisis, and all the time the USSR leader believed JFK to be inferior and not a worthy opponent. The main idea of this quote is that JFK is warning Khrushchev to tread lightly because even if JFK himself is not the strongest leader, he has the strongest country backing him up: the United States.

NMD- "History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside."- John Fitzgerald Kennedy This quote is attributed to John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. Kennedy came from a very well politically established, and financially well-off, family from Massachusetts, with his father being one of the most notorious politicians in the country. Kennedy, a devout Catholic and Democrat, served in the Pacific during WWII, graduated from Harvard, and thanks to his youthful appeal to the American voters, beat out Richard Nixon for the presidency of the United States. This quote was taken during Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1960, while Kennedy was discussing his passion for history. Kennedy himself, was an enormous history buff, and after studying at Harvard with some of the best scholars in the country in the field, and while studying the history of war as a result of his service in World War II. Kennedy was quick to realize in his political career, that history often repeated itself, and he used his knowledge of President Lincoln's ascendancy to the presidency to his advantage, and his knowledge of political strategy eventually landed him in the White House. The audience for this quote was the American voting public. At the time, with the arrival of Sputnik, American education was in a frenzied hurry to beef up the science and mathematics departments in public schools, with English and history being left by the wayside. Kennedy was quick to remind the American voting public that those who do not learn from their history are forever doomed to repeat it. The reason this quote was said was for Kennedy not only to show his deft handling of historical knowledge, but also to demonstrate how history is so vital, both in its knowledge as well as its practice. The main idea of the quote is that we must not only carefully understand history and what it means for those in the present day, but we must also move forward and create new history, for those who tried to hold back progress will eventually be run over by it. This quote still holds massive historical significance because in the postmodern age, with such rapid and constant advances in technology, humanity cannot afford to be stuck in the past, especially not when the future offers a better place to live.

“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.” -John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy, president of the United States, was a strong believer in the influence of ideas. JFK was well liked by the American public because he was young, a Harvard graduate, and a war hero. He believed in a “new frontier;” for the new generation to change the United States. This quote was produced during the 1960s, when Americans began thinking the U.S. was losing the Cold War to communism. The Sixties marked a period where there was a transfer of power to World War II veterans. Being a World War II veteran, JFK represented the new idealistic generation. This quote best describes democracy in the United States. Democracy was established by our Founding Fathers, and while they have long died, the idea of democracy is engraved in each and every American. In the past, new generations have influenced history in the biggest ways. Young people are the most adamant about change. The Greensboro sit-in is a prime example; college students alternated sitting at a counter in a diner that refused to serve African-Americans. These college students persisted for more than a year, until the diner finally gave in and served these Black students. The quote was probably directed toward the young and idealistic generation who wanted change. Since he was relatively young, he could relate with this new generation. In order to deliver change, Kennedy hired the best and brightest minds to his presidential cabinet. Kennedy said this because, at the time, Americans had a pretty grim view of the future. The youth was sick of conformity and the general public did not believe the U.S. could win the Cold War. However, Kennedy’s domestic and foreign proposals changed America’s point of view and gave the people a more positive outlook. The material shows that Kennedy believes in the perseverance of democracy in the United States.

4/3/2011

JML: "Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever." Gov George Wallace AL Gov. George Wallace of Alabama made this statement. At the time he vehemently opposed integration and upheld segregationist policies and rejected the federal government’s involvement in state affairs. He said it during his inauguration speech on January 14th 1963 from the portico of the Alabama State Capitol. He was directly opposing the federal government’s actions to integrate Alabama public schools and other institutions. People originally heard his words at the inauguration. This material addresses equal rights for all Americans including blacks and the numerous struggles for racial equality throughout United States History. It would help to understand that at this time the Civil Rights Movement was currently underway, that rights for African Americans have been debated since before the Declaration of Independence was signed and continued to be fought for after this statement. It would also be good to know that Wallace’s side lost, that Wallace in particular was shamed by Bloody Sunday, that segregation ended and equality for African Americans has since been achieved and that Wallace has apologized for his racist behavior. The audience was the white Alabamians at the inaugural address, and so the sentiment that segregation is good and ought to stay around reflected the audience’s racist opinions. Those both for and against segregation or the Civil Rights Movement would have paid attention to this statement. Racists, including the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacists as well as the unlabeled ones in the north, would have paid attention to this and be happy about his words and take them as a rallying cry against integration and the Civil Rights Movement. Those for the Civil Rights Movement on the other hand would be angered and saddened by Wallace’s proclamation. Wallace made this statement to assert his will to keep Alabama segregated despite federal government attempts to integrate public schools and institutions in Alabama. He said it during his inaugural address because prior to that time the Mississippi University had been forced to integrate, Birmingham Alabama had garnered the nickname Bombingham after the Children’s Crusade after Martin Luther King Jr was jailed, and because John F. Kennedy had just proposed what would end up becoming the Civil Rights Act of 1964; in other words, he said it then because that was after the issue of segregation within the state had started being a national issue. It addresses his political need to mirror the sentiments of the white voters that elected him. This material conveys that people continued to vehemently uphold segregation and oppose the Civil Rights Movement. Its message is that African Americans are not equal and that the world ought to be segregated. This material is important because it demonstrates the opposition that the Civil Rights Movement had, specifically the opposition it had in the form of racist Alabamians. The implications are that America, at least Alabama, would always be segregated and racist. Wallace’s words prompted John F. Kennedy to respond with his speech in which he pointed out the hypocrisy of being a ‘free’ nation while not having equality for African Americans, as well as gave the opposition to the Civil Rights Movement a statement to shout.

JML: “I have made my position in this matter crystal clear. I have said in every county in Mississippi that no school in our state will be integrated while I am your Governor. I shall do everything in my power to prevent integration in our schools.” –Gov Ross R. Barnett, September 13th 1962 Governor Ross R. Barnett made this statement. He was the governor of Mississippi and vehemently opposed integration even after James Meredith had won the lawsuit and been legally allowed to enroll at the University of Mississippi, and because of that did not let him into the school. Meredith was not able to enter the school until September 30th 1962 when he was escorted in by U.S. Marshals, after Barnett was held in contempt of court with fine of more than $10,000 for each day Barnett stopped Meredith from entering; which he never paid. Barnett’s opinion is that no matter what schools in Mississippi should remain segregated and he would do anything he could to make sure they did. He said this on a television and radio broadcast on September 13th, the month that the court ruled Meredith did indeed have the right to attend the school, therefore his words were in response to that. People originally heard his opinion all over Mississippi but this exact quote they first heard on the radio or saw on television. His words address the fight for equality for African Americans, specifically regarding desegregation of schools and the opposition it. It would help to know that eventually all schools were desegregated, that Barnett was not able to use his power as governor to stop it. It would also be good to know about other struggles with the Modern Civil Rights Movement, and the similar situation in Alabama regarding governor opposition to integration, to understand that this is really just an example of the opposition to the Civil Rights Movement that eventually fell. The intended audience was the like minded whites of Mississippi that opposed integration, so this statement was really the governor’s way of assuring them that he would honestly try his best to keep schools segregated. Both those for and against the Civil Rights Movement would have paid attention. Those against it and for segregation would be pleased and reassured with Barnett’s words, those for the civil rights and integration would be angered and disheartened. He said it and said it when he did to reassure those against integration that he was too and would do everything he could to stop it at the time that it was threatened by James Meredith’s allowed enrollment into the University of Mississippi. It addresses his political need to remain liked by the white voters of Mississippi. Barnett conveys that integration will never happen in Mississippi and that it is wrong. Its message is that African Americans are not equal and should not go to the same schools as white Americans, especially in Mississippi. The point is that Barnett will try his hardest to stop James Meredith or any other African American from attending the same schools as white Mississippians do. This material is important because it demonstrates the opposition the Civil Rights Movement faced. The implications are that African Americans are not equal, according to racist Southern politicians. Barnett’s opinions and his resultant actions eventually lead to his being held in contempt of court with the possibility of paying a grand fine and Meredith’s enrollment at the university.

SLW-- “Being an old farm boy myself, chickens coming home to roost never did make me sad; they've always made me glad” --Malcolm X

Malcolm X made this statement after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Malcolm X was a black rights activist who took a very different approach in the fight for civil rights than did his contemporaries, such as Martin Luther King. Malcolm X was a leader of the “Nation of Islam” Movement and preached the ideas of Elijah Muhammad. Elijah warned Malcolm X not to comment on the assassination of John F. Kennedy but the quote above shows that Malcolm chose otherwise. Malcolm’s response became very controversial as it could easily be seen as a derogatory comment about Kennedy. The citizens of the United States were already so extremely volatile and scared by the death of Kennedy that anything that undermined his greatness was not taken well. Many people in turn viewed Malcolm as inhumane and radical. What Malcolm X was trying to say was not against the President himself, but against the white folk who had brought so much hatred and violence into American life. Malcolm X believed that the hate and brutality of these white men had not stopped with just the killing of blacks but had spread amongst each other and, eventually, to the President of the US, John F. Kennedy. This saying of “the chickens coming home to roost” is commonly used today to signify how a bad thing in the past is now causing problems. It also originated before Malcolm X said it in Robert South’s, the English poet laureate, poem, “The Curse of Kehama” in 1810. Malcolm X directed this statement towards his followers of the Nation of Islam but also to white people in America to show them the effects of their violence towards Black people. Malcolm X thought that by showing them that the nations acceptance of killing and harming those that they do not like was a direct result of Kennedy’s assassination, he could encourage them to stop disputing blacks and grant them civil equalities once and for all. Because Malcolm X made this comment, defied the commands of Elijah Muhammad, and ultimately tried to tell members of the Nation of Islam that they had been lied to about the religion of Islam by Elijah, Malcolm X was kicked out of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X, like Kennedy, was assassinated for his ideas and further proved that his idea of the “chickens coming home to roost” held true throughout American society.

SLW--

“We believed that while a campaign in Birmingham would surely be the toughest fight of our civil rights careers, it could, if successful, break the back of segregation all over the nation.” --Martin Luther King Jr.

This quote is attributed to Martin Luther King Jr. King who was one of the most prominent civil rights leaders and preached the idea of nonviolent action and civil disobedience in the movement. The city of Birmingham, Alabama was considered to be the most segregated city in the United States at the time. King thought that if civil rights activists could desegregate the city of Birmingham than they could desegregate any city, so they might as well shoot high. This showdown lasted months and in this time, King had been arrested, children had joined the movement, and under the leadership of Eugene “Bull” Connor, extreme violence was used against all of these protesters. This quote was created while Martin Luther King Jr. was in jail and wrote a response letter to eight Alabama clergymen, known as: “Letter From a Birmingham Jail”. King did not want to address the injustices towards blacks in a courtroom because he believed that no change ever came out of laws that were not enforced. While many conservatives viewed Martin Luther King and his campaign in Birmingham with disdain, this movement sparked interest in a larger portion of the American public and even president John F. Kennedy himself. As the media explicitly reported the violence and brutality in Birmingham through pictures, people began to question whether these actions were not only against civil rights but also against human rights. King’s efforts in Birmingham also sparked Kennedy to directly address civil rights and he deemed it a “moral problem”. As businessmen lost profits from blacks, who refused to support places that were segregated, many of these men chose to desegregate their businesses as to gain more profit. The decision by King to try to desegregate Birmingham was so essential to the Civil Rights Movement because it brought about much stronger civil rights reforms. In particular, Kennedy’s civil rights bill, that called for an end to segregation in public places where fed funding involved, greatly encouraged the movement because many places resided on money from the government. This quote was stated in the 1960s, the prime time of the Civil Rights Movement. The letter itself is widely read today and is acclaimed for its perfection in rhetorical strategies.

SL:

This administration here and now declares unconditional war on poverty. -LBJ In his January 8th, 1964 State of the Union address, President Lyndon B. Johnson stated his plans for America's growing impoverished population. Unlike most presidents, LBJ did not have a wealthy background, grew up in poverty in Texas, which influenced his domestic policies in office. LBJ has been frequently marked as the president that contributed to the most to reducing poverty and improving civil rights and education. LBJ also demonstrated that poverty was not only a "black issue" but affected 20% of America's population, whites included. As this quote originated from the beginning of LBJ's presidency, it serves as a precursor for his numerous programs that attempted to diminish poverty in America. Programs such as Food Stamps and Medicare/Medicaid provided food and health insurance to those who could not afford it. Since this quote was directed at Congress, as well as the public, this direct statement signified that LBJ was committed to the cause and expected Congress's cooperation to get future legislation passed. This quote is significant because it defines LBJ's obstinate stance on helping the poor, which he helped throughout his presidency. Instead of merely saying he would try, LBJ actually took action, marking him as one of few presidents who showed true compassion toward the impoverished.

KHW ~

“I’ll Say nothing against him. At one time the whites in the United States called him a racialist, and extremist, and a Communist. Then the Black Muslims came along and the whites thanked the lord for Martin Luther King” ~ Malcolm X to 300 Islamic students, Manchester Guardian Weekly, 10 Dec. 1964, p.6

Malcolm X was born as Malcolm Little in Omaha Nebraska, May 19th 1925 and became a foster child at a young age after his mother was submitted to a mental institution following the murder of Malcolm’s father, Earl Little. Malcolm dropped out of school and became involved with drugs and gambling. In 1946 he was convicted for burglary and sentenced to ten years in prison during which time he studied the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam. When released, he was a devout follower and a powerful voice in the NOI community. Malcolm advocated a separation of blacks and disagreed with MLK’s non-violent approach. Here he mentions how whites used to believe that Martin Luther King was a threat but the rise of the NOI gave whites a legitimate reason to be scared. The NOI’s teachings shifted the Civil Rights Movement from focusing on non-violent resistance to getting results by any means necessary. The idea of any means necessary first originated with Malcolm X but it would become the slogan for the Black Separatism movement in the late sixties. His ideas appealed to young audiences like the 300 students to whom this quote was told. Young people were impatient with the slow progress being made and understood the desire for freedom that Malcolm often preached about. Regardless of their different views, Malcolm had the utmost respect for Martin Luther King and did not see him as an enemy. On the contrary, MLK was a big part of the international recognition of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Images of abuses by whites to nonviolent black protesters and marchers made headlines around the world and allowed for international fame to reach the NOI movement as well. This quote was published in the //Manchester Guardian Weekly//, a British news publication founded in 1821 and associated with the international media organization //The Guardian//. The fact that Malcolm X was internationally recognized meant the NOI was highly influential at the time and it affected black activism for the rest of the decade. This quote was published December 10th 1964, five months after the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Critics said that though the act was a big step forward it was not enforced to the extent it needed to be and this belief would be a major factor in the support for the NOI and the “any means necessary” attitude versus the passive non-violent resistance advocated by MLK. People who read this quote were either empowered by it or frightened by it since the Nation of Islam’s methods were a threat to racist whites but an inspiration to suppressed or discriminated blacks in America. Malcolm X said this to make it clear that Martin Luther King was not an enemy to the NOI movement and that the NOI was a force to be reckoned with. It symbolized that blacks were done being pushed around and that they were going to get their freedom and equality even if that meant they had to resort to violence. Although the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X were the start of the violent civil rights activity, they never resorted to violence. The violence mostly began with Malcolm X’s assassination. The assassination of Malcolm X and JFK fostered the belief that nonviolence was not working and that more needed to be done. This progression ended with the abandonment of MLK’s nonviolent approach.

WMA

“And every day my Government gives me a count of corpses created by military science in Vietnam. So it goes.” – Kurt Vonnegut, __Slaughterhouse Five__ (pg 210). Kurt Vonnegut first published this quote, through his novel __Slaughterhouse Five__, in 1969. In 1968 North Vietnamese forces launched the Tet Offensive, marking the largest military operation since the start of the Vietnam War from either side. At the same time the United States was engaged in a fiercely competitive Cold War with Soviet Russia. Only two decades previous the United States participated in World War II against Germany, Japan, and Italy. Vonnegut championed pacifism and other anti-war beliefs, and was named honorary president of the American Humanist Association. The quote not only addresses the ongoing Vietnam War, of which Vonnegut was a strong opponent, but also America’s growing habit of violence throughout the 20th century. Vonnegut emphasizes the ongoing nature of such activities through “every day”, implying that the killings will never end. The satirical tone of the quote most directly appeals to fellow opponents of the Vietnam War, along with other anti-war protestors in general. Furthermore Vonnegut’s stylistic black humor appeals especially to cynical individuals, who would find humor in the term “military science”. This quote, as well as the entirety of __Slaughterhouse 5__ serves to argue against war in general, while specifically centering around the ongoing Vietnam War. Because __Slaughterhouse 5__ has been garnered significant critical acclaim it can be assumed that this quote was successful in supporting Vonnegut’s anti-war argument. Works such as __Slaughterhouse 5__, along with extensive media coverage of the war, fueled protestors at home and greatly contributed to Vietnam’s infamous reputation.

GEB "I am a freeman, an American, a United States Senator, and a Democrat, in that order." __ Lyndon B. Johnson __

Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on August 27, 1908 near Stonewall, Texas to a family without much money. LBJ attended school when he could, despite the constant mockery of his clothes by other students and went on to graduate from Southwest Texas State Teachers; College, now known as Texas State University-San Marcos. After briefly teaching public speaking and debate a high school in Houston Texas, LBJ was elected speaker of the “Little Congress,” intended to cultivate Congressmen, newspapermen, and lobbyists. In 1935, LBJ became the head of the Texas National Youth Administration and enabled him to use the government to create education and job opportunities for younger generations, something that continued on throughout his political career. In 1937, LBJ ran for Texas’ 10th congressional district, running on a New Deal platform and served in the House from April 10, 1937 to January 3, 1949. After serving in the Senate for a number of years, LBJ became the Vice President for JFK. JFK needed the support of the traditional Southern Democrats and most of those backed LBJ, so not only was he a savvy politician, but he could bring in the needed votes for JFK. After the passing of JFK, LBJ took over the presidency and ran again and of course won. This quote is talking about LBJ’s priorities as a politician. Growing up poor, LBJ knew firsthand the issues and struggles faced. During this time there were also intense Civil Rights movements which were supported by LBJ in acts such as the Voting Rights Act. LBJ was placing the emphasis on the fact he is first a freeman, which goes back to basics of the United States in which every man is created equal and all are free. Then he says he is an American, which is demonstrating that liberty comes first, then nationality. He goes on to say he is a Senator and Democrat and the wording of this quote shows that people should not be concerned about the job you hold, your rank in society, or the party your are affiliated with. The fact that you are a human makes you equal and free and that is the most important part of this quote. The main idea of this quote is really to depict how people should not be judged on the outside because everyone is essentially the same. It also addresses the issues between the political parties and LBJ is emphasizing that it should be affect the world as much as their separation does.


 * 4/10//11 **

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