Our loss as a nation: Ted Kennedy 1932-2009

August 25th, 2009

Today we lost a great politician, and great statesmen, Ted Kennedy.

I usually don't speak so highly of politicians because most have never earned it. Most politicians are solely in it for power or money. I don't believe the Kennedy's ever were. Born in 1932 as the youngest of nine kids. He has witnessed his family suffer tragedies that most other families would collapse under.

Between the ages of 6 - 18 he witnessed his Sister Rosemary's lobotomy. His Brother Joe's death in WWII, and his sister Kathleen's death in an airplane accident. A year after being sworn in to the senate for the first time his brother John, then President, had been murdered. A few years later his brother Robert was also assassinated. He outlived his 2 nephews, Robert Jr., and John jr. who both died in terrible accidents. And he lived just long enough to see his sister Eunice, founder of the Special Olympics, die.

But through all this he pressed on. He pressed on because he believed, as the rest of his family did, that they had a civic obligation to our country. And to the people they represent.

He was a champion of women's rights. Gay rights. Worker's rights. he was a champion of the poor and middle class. He fought for expanded funding for AIDS research, and for the implementation of Title IX. In 1985 he defied the Apartheid government of South Africa's wishes and stayed overnight in the home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. And he helped lead the charge to elect our first black president.

He truly is one of our greatest senators in US history.

Now many of his critics will have many things to say in regards to his life. He certainly wasn't a perfect man. He was kicked out of Harvard for cheating, but allowed back after serving 2 years in the military. There was the Chappaquiddick incident in which Mary Jo Kopechne died. But I would argue that is more of a matter between Senator Kennedy, and the Kopechne Family, and they deserve their privacy on the matter.

In summary, I was once posed a question by a friend. The question was : Is the sum of a man's life equal to his greatest mistake? Or is it the value of the whole life that should be judged?

I personally believe it's the latter, and that When you view Ted Kennedy's life as a whole, the realization that we are so much better as a nation with his influence, than without it.

Rest In Peace Teddy. Your work is done here.

*Some information came from wikipedia.