Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Ted Kennedy

1932 - 2009

This is not a post I wanted to write. The news that Senator Ted Kennedy died at the age of 77 is such a sad event. It is bittersweet to me because the malignant brain tumors that took his life also took my husband's.

I never met Ted Kennedy personally, but I was in Massachusetts in 1969 when the Chappaquiddick scandal erupted and I clearly remember how it dominated everyone's conversation. He had his defender's and his haters. I was not aware of the Kennedy aura at that time and took no position. I did lean toward thinking he was a rich playboy who panicked.

Whatever the truth of that tragic incident, it stopped all possibilities of him following in John and Robert's footsteps in seeking the presidency. Through the years he has redeemed himself as the strong center of a tragic riddled family. The Kennedy family story is Shakespearean in the many catastrophies that befell it.

Senator Kennedy strongly supported universal health care and his voice in the Senate will be sorely missed.

Our hearts go out to the Kennedy family who have suffered so many tragic deaths.

Rest In Peace, Ted

10 comments:

20th Century Woman said...

I have posted briefly on this also. I shared a birthday with Ted, same day, same year. I shared his values as well. This is the third time in my life I have shed tears for a Kennedy.

May all three rest in peace.

Claire Jean said...

I realized his time could not be long, but kept hoping against hope.
It's a sad day for his family and for our country.

Nancy said...

Darlene,

Are you sort of hoping,as I am, that the Congress of our country will mark the passing of a great American by voting for the Health Care Bill?

It was always Ted Kennedy's dream that the American people would have their health needs taken care of by our government.

I believe that the Congressional Health Care Plan should be suspended until the plan for ALL the people of our nation is passed and we ALL have the comfort of knowing that our needs will be met.

Darlene said...

*2oth Century Woman - How great that you shared a birthday with Ted. I shared one with his brother, John, but not the same year.

*Claire Jean - Hope springs eternal, but sometimes we don't get our wish.

*Nancy - Yeah. let John Kyle (and all the rest) do without his Cadillac policy for a year and see how he likes it.

Tabor said...

I think he WAS a rich playboy who panicked. But the fact that he marched on past the sudden death of two older brothers to complete a great mission shows how he had overcome his demons.

janinsanfran said...

I too remember Chappaquiddick. I was not inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

But then he grew up, mostly. None of us are perfect. He did good. Any of us should be so fortunate as to have that said about us.

Looking to the Stars said...

Good Post, our thoughts are with the Kennedys during this sad time.

Darlene said...

*Tabor - He more than redeemed himself and I am sure he grew up a lot that night.

*Janinsanfran - The outpouring of love from those who knew him well is proof enough that he outgrew his youthful wildness.

*Looking to the Stars - They are a very large and supporting family and they will help each other get through this as they have survived so many tragedies, but they have lost their rock.

Baino said...

Hi Darlene, I thought it was time for another visit. He was indeed an avid campaigner for universal health, I just hope they can find a candidate with the same views to replace him. Then the Government has known about his illness, he wasn't going to last forever so hopefully they have someone waiting in the wings.

I do not get this resistance to universal health care in America. I simply can't grasp why so many seem to be afraid of Government control of such an important system. It works, (imperfectly) in so many countries that there are many models to choose from. Surely it's not just a fear of being overtaxed or losing personal freedom? Good luck you to and I hope something is passed soon so that people like your daughter (and there are 40 million of them) get the cover they deserve and need. Universal health care for all . .it has no political, social or economic boundaries - perhaps that's what drives the dissenters!

Darlene said...

*Baino - Thanks for stopping by again. No thinking American can understand how people can vote against their own best interest. I think the operative word is "thinking". They are intellectually lazy and don't try to understand the issues and listen to idiots on radio and TV who are shills for the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.