Why Can't I Go To Dealey Plaza Today For The 50th JFK Assassination Anniversary?

In the picture I am standing on the infamous Grassy Knoll in Dealey Plaza, in Dallas, on November 22.

That would be November 22, ten years ago, on the 40th Anniversary of the Assassination of John F. Kennedy.

I recollect this event, ten years ago, as one of the more memorable experiences I have ever experienced.

I recollect thinking at the time that there was no way I would still be in Texas when the time of the half century anniversary rolled around.

And yet here I am.

But, today I will not be driving to Dallas, unlike ten years ago.

Back then, in 2003, a more innocent time, only two years after the 9/11 Attacks, any riff raff who had the energy to do so could go to Dealey Plaza, unmolested by any sort of police state security apparatus.

Today, if I wanted to go to Dealey Plaza I would have needed to obtain a permission ticket by emailing a request to a website titled The 50th Honoring the Memory of President John F. Kennedy where if a lottery deemed I was worthy I would have been sent notification that this morning I could bring a couple pieces of ID to wait in a line at American Airlines Center to get my ticket to then wait in another line, going through, I assume, airport type security to be admitted to Dealey Plaza.

4,000 tickets were available.

I can not imagine 4,000 people going through this process to be able to attend this event. And even if one did go through the process I am thinking this morning's temperature being barely above freezing might have one changing ones mind about heading to Dealey Plaza to wait in lines to then stand outside waiting for the moment when gunshots blasted through the air a half century ago in Dallas.

Below is my video from that more innocent time, ten years ago........

The Continuing Saga Of Lee Harvey Oswald & Nick Beef In Fort Worth's Shannon Rose Hill Cemetery

At some point in time, early in this century, I learned that the final resting place of the assassin of John F. Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, was in my neighborhood, in a place called Shannon Rose Hill Cemetery.

Soon after learning about my new neighbor I paid a visit. During that visit I noticed that next to Lee Harvey Oswald's headstone there was a headstone for someone named Nick Beef.

The Nick Beef headstone, just like Oswald's, has no details, no birth date, no death date, nothing but the name.

After my visit I webpaged Oswald's Gravesite on my Eyes on Texas website.

Soon after I webpaged Oswald's Gravesite I received info regarding Nick Beef and added that info.

Then yesterday I heard from Ed, via email and a blog comment, with the email's subject line being "The real 'Nick Beef' story."

Ed's real Nick Beef story was an article from August 9, 2013, in the New York Times, titled Mystery From the Grave Beside Oswald’s, Solved which elaborated on the explanation I already had regarding the Nick Beef headstone.

With the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the JFK Assassination I am noticing an uptick in visits to my 3 webpages that deal with that subject, those being the Dealey Plaza page, the JFK Anniversary page and the Oswald's Gravesite page.

I am also noticing an uptick in visits to a blog post related to the JFK 50th subject titled You Need A Criminal Background Check To Get A Ticket To Dealey Plaza For The 50th JFK Assassination Event In Dallas.

I can not help but wonder how many people, so far, have subjected themselves to a criminal background check to get themselves a ticket allowing them to be at Dealey Plaza this coming November 22.

I am guessing the crowd in Dealey Plaza this coming November 22, will be quite a bit smaller than the throng that crowded into that location on November 22, 2003. At that point in time, just over 2 years after the 9/11 attacks, no criminal background check was needed, or a ticket, to be there that day.

I long for the simpler times of yesteryear.....

You Need A Criminal Background Check To Get A Ticket To Dealey Plaza For The 50th JFK Assassination Event In Dallas

Until this morning, on the upcoming date of Friday, November 22, 2013, I had planned on riding the TRE to Dallas to go to Dealey Plaza for the events surrounding the 50th Anniversary of the John F. Kennedy Assassination.

This morning incoming information caused me to change my mind about taking the train to Dallas in November.

I attended the 40th Anniversary of the JFK Assassination. That day, in Dealey Plaza, was one of the most memorable events I have ever experienced.

Ten years ago I did not take the train to Dallas. I drove. Parking at Pioneer Plaza, then walking to Dealey Plaza.

The event for the 40th Anniversary had a sort of spontaneous, reverent, celebratory feel to it. The 40th occurred 2 years after 9/11, so security was clearly in evidence, including helicopters overhead and SWAT type teams on the ground.

So, why have I decided not to go to Dallas for the 50th?

At a news conference at the Sixth Floor Museum the mayor of Dallas, Michael Rawlings, said that given the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, and the recent Boston Marathon bombings, security is a high priority.

So, unlike 10 years ago, when I guess security was not such a high priority, one needs a ticket to be in Dealey Plaza on November 22.

Dallas Police Chief Charles Cato said police will conduct full criminal background checks on all people requesting tickets. People can request up to two tickets and each person listed in a single request will be screened.

You request a ticket online where "for security purposes, you will be asked to enter a valid driver’s license/state issued ID number or passport number or social security number on your request form. Two forms of ID are required on the form."

Tickets are picked randomly, with those picked being notified, I assume by email, on or about October 1, 2013.

The tickets do  not get mailed to the lucky random drawing winners. You have to pick up the tickets, in person, at the American Airlines Center, on the day of the event, from 7am til 10am. Each person attending MUST present photo ID, with information that matches the ticket form, when picking up tickets. For security reasons, no tickets can be released without a photo ID. Acceptable photo identification includes driver’s license, state issued ID, school ID or passport.

I can just imagine how much fun it will be for people to line up at the AA Center waiting their turn to get their tickets. And then to make your way to Dealey Plaza where I assume you get to wait in another line and likely go through an airport like screening device, whilst presenting your ticket.

I don't think JFK would be happy with this. I'm thinking JFK would likely be wondering why Dallas was not more overboard about security the last time he was in town.

Blaming this on the Boston Bombing seems totally bogus. That occurred far too recently to have had an input into these elaborate measures, such as setting up a website titled The 50th Honoring the Memory of President John F. Kennedy.

Why not just do what was done for the 40th? Close off several streets, have a large police presence, and let all who want to attend be able to do so. Apparently video screens will be set up, such as at American Airlines Center and other satellite locations, where those without tickets can watch what is going on in Dealey Plaza.

Methinks Dallas is likely going to take some National and International flack over this plan for the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Below is the video I made of the 40th Anniversary of the JFK Assassination....