It is beyond sad that Edward M. Kennedy has died. It is deeper, bigger, connected to something far more profound in the cosmos and the lives of people in my generation than just sadness.
I remember Walter Cronkite announcing the death of John F. Kennedy on television in 1963. I remember the headline on some New York paper in 1968 ... "Now Bobby..." Two of the worst memories in my life.
I don't think our culture has ever fully recovered from those losses. But Ted Kennedy tried. I regretted that he couldn't make it to the Presidency in 1980. But he made a difference. Perhaps most importantly in his endorsement of Barack Obama in that razor close primary with Hillary Clinton. It made a difference. It helped change America and the world.
At least Ted Kennedy died of natural causes. But death is never good. He could have lived a few more years, even a few more decades.
But we're fortunate that he lived and worked for the best instincts in America as long as he did. Although he won't be able to help directly in the great battle of our time, the battle for universal health care in America, his spirit won't be very far. Rest in peace. Your dream, our dream, will never die.
3 comments:
I respectfully disagree that this is a sad time Mr. Levinson. Of course the loss of any great man is tragic, but he lived a grand life and he died of natural causes, rather than by violence met by his brothers. What better way to go than to have lived one's life to its full?
Mr. Kennedy served the people of America well. He set out to accomplish much in his life and he was quite successful. Maybe not every single time, but more often than most.
He lived a long and fulfilling life with both hills and valleys, triumphs and tragedy. His lived life on his terms and whether another individual that met him agreed with him or not, one would be hard pressed not to respect his standing solid for what he believed was right.
This is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of the man, not mourn his passing. The entire country is more wealthy for having had him on our side, fighting for our constitution and our way of life.
If we weep this night it is not for him, or in honor of him, but for ourselves and our own sense of emptiness having lost such a hero for many causes. I'm just glad to know he fought the fight, and feel he more than deserves this final rest.
No correction necessary. I, too, and beyond sad for the loss of his influence on our lives. I'm sad to be at the end of an era. I'm sad for all of us that he didn't live to see his dreams fulfilled, because the world could have been a better place if he could have stayed with us even a while longer.
Well said, Darrell. The difference between our responses and Zach's may be that Zach is 20 years younger than us...
On another note - welcome to Infinite Regress. Exchanging comments with you feels like 25 years ago on EIES...
Post a Comment