Stasis: Action - JFK's Cuban Missile Crisis Speech

John F. Kennedy’s speech regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis employed the use of the fourth stasis, action. The beginning of his speech conveyed a sense of urgency, a sort of imminence that threatened the peace of not just the United States, but of the world. Kennedy emphasized the danger that the Soviet Union imposed and called for action, not to bear arms towards the U.S.S.R., but rather an action towards peace and unity. Kennedy warned his listeners that inaction would lead to conflict, and eventually war. He referenced the World Wars, saying, “The 1930’s taught us a clear lesson: aggressive conduct, if allowed to go unchecked and unchallenged, ultimately leads to war.” Kennedy stressed that the U.S. would maintain a “policy…of patience and restraint,” but the Soviet Unions’ actions were unable to be ignored. Kennedy reached out to the captive people of Cuba and tried to explain that the Cuban leaders were no longer inspired by Cuban ideals. He implored them to take action if they wanted to keep their national identity, to keep their pride, and to keep the peace. He then told the citizens of the United States to be steadfast and warned, “the greatest danger of all would be to do nothing.” Kennedy used the stasis of action in his speech by conveying a sense of urgency to his audience and called for them to act in order to keep peace and order.