Teddy Kennedy's battle with brain cancer came to an end late last night. He was one of the longest serving Senators in US history. He had the nickname of The Liberal Lion.
Senator Kennedy's name is on far too many pieces of legislation to name; but there are at least two things that most people in this country can agree on; The American with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act have helped millions of people across the country. His family's support of Special Olympics is something that everyone who has a disabled person in their life needs to remember. While his sister Eunice was the founder, the entire family heralded the achievements of people that many in society leave behind.
We all know that he was far from perfect. His many personal failings have been fodder for his foes for years. One mistake that he made caused the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, and that is part of his life, but it isn't the only part. But I think that this is a time for respect and for tribute. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother and an uncle.
The senator had given many high profile family eulogies during his life. One of the most memorable for me was the one he gave of his nephew John. His love for his family was easy to hear while listening. I remember thinking at the time that I hoped for his sake that would be the last.
I am hoping that we can be better than the people who so disrespected people like Tony Snow and the conservatives' beloved President Reagan. From what I have seen on my facebook page I think the answer to that sadly is no. Which is disappointing.
Rest in Peace, Senator Kennedy. While I didn't agree with your politics, I admire your service.
Nicely put and very respectful.
ReplyDeletevery nicely put indeed. he will be missed.
ReplyDeleteWell, I won't go that far that I will miss his policies, but he served to the best of his abilities and stood by his belief system. I respect anyone who stands by their beliefs. It isn't always an easy thing to do.
ReplyDeleteSo true Just a conservative girl. Many took issue with his politics and policies as you did. Yet you found the appropriate way to say goodbye to a man who was a liberal when it was easy and a liberal when it was not. He deserves respect for that, as well as serving his country.
ReplyDeleteYou deserve admiration for your sensitive post.
Les Carpentry III
Rational Nation USA
Bill Bennett said it best last week. He said he does not believe in speaking ill of the dead, but he also does not believe in lying about the dead. Kennedy was who he was. Normally, I would agree that Conservatives should prove (as they usually do) that they have more class than Statists. However, Kennedy's tactics and words cannot be off-limits when Big Media and Leftist Democrats are attempting to use his death to push nationalized health care. The death of Ted Kennedy cannot paralyze Real Americans if Dems cynically use it to take over 1/5 of the American economy and take control of our lives from womb to tomb.
ReplyDeleteTeddy got away with things that would have been all over the media if he were conservative, things that would have ended his career. He is, above all else, a shining example of the double-standard.
ReplyDeleteGuy:
ReplyDeleteSome of what he was allowed to get away with had more to do with the time. Had Mary Jo been killed after Watergate instead of before, the press would have treated it much differently. That doesn't explain it all, but it does explain some. President Kennedy's affairs were known by the press at the time, they just didn't report things like that then.