55.Ted Kennedy - Truth and Tolerance.docVIP

55.Ted Kennedy - Truth and Tolerance 　　delivered3 October1983 .LibertyBaptistCollege .Lynchburg .VA 　　Thank youvery much Professor Kombay for that generous introduction .And letme say .thatInever expected to hear suchkind words from Dr .Falwell .So inreturn .Ihave aninvitation of my own .On January 20th .1985 .I hope Dr .Falwell will say a prayer atthe inauguration of the next Democratic President of the United States .Now .Dr .Falwell .I m notexactly sure howyou feel aboutthat .Youmight not appreciate the President .butthe Democrats certainly would appreciate the prayer . 　　Actually .a number of people in Washington were surprised that I was invited to speak here --.and even more surprised whenI accepted the invitation .They seem tothink that it s easier for a camel topass throughthe eye of the needle than for a Kennedy to come to the campus of Liberty Baptist College .Inhonor of our meeting .I have asked Dr .Falwell .as your Chancellor .to permit allthe students an extra hour nextSaturday night before curfew And inreturn .I have promised to watchthe Old Time GospelHour next Sunday morning 　　I realize thatmy visit may be a little controversial .Butas many of you have heard .Dr .Falwellrecently sentme a membership in the Moral Majority --.and I didn t even apply for it .And Iwonder if that means that I m a member in good standing 　　Falwell .Somewhat 　　Somewhat .he says . 　　This is .of course .a nonpolitical speech whichis probably best under the circumstances .Since I am not a candidate for President .it would certainly be inappropriate to ask for your supportin this election and probably inaccurate to thank youfor it in the last one 　　I have come here to discuss my beliefs aboutfaith and country .tolerance and truthinAmerica Iknow we begin with certain disagreements .Istrongly suspect that atthe end of the evening some of our disagreements will remain .ButI alsohope thattonight and in the months and years ahead .we will always respect the right o