Kennedy: Mourning The Loss of an Icon
Like millions of Americans across the country mourning the death of Senator Ted Kennedy with his family and friends, I feel the loss of an icon and can't imagine American public life without him.
The first time I saw Senator Kennedy was in San Francisco when he was running for President. Though far too young to vote (or even drive), I volunteered on his California primary campaign and remember being in the 1980 Democratic convention hall during his epic speech. Ted Kennedy's stirring words from that night ricocheted through my brain over the years and when I learned of his death: "the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
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Though deeply disappointed that Kennedy did not win the presidency, I admired him for emerging out of his loss and his brothers' shadow to be one of the best Senators in history -- proving that you don't have to reach your highest political ambition in order to reach your fullest human potential. A few years ago I was at the Capitol for a Kennedy Center honorees reception and saw the senator in a quiet corridor off Statuary Hall. "I love to walk through here and see the great statues and pictures of our Founders" he said. "It always gives me a thrill to be here and think of all they did." It was striking that after all the years and all his accomplishments at the Capitol, Ted Kennedy was still awed by being there. Ideally, every public servant feels that same thrill when they show up for work be it at the nation's Capitol or a local volunteer post.
The last time I saw Ted Kennedy was a generation after my first meeting, at the Senate subway below the Capitol on Obama's Inauguration Day. He was his usual gregarious and gracious self -- with beaming smile and booming voice wishing my husband and me good luck with our pregnancy and expressing his excitement about the new President.
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Ted Kennedy's inspiration will loom large over our politics for years to come, uplift us in the healthcare fight, and help to achieve his dream of liberty and justice for all.
**** UPDATE *** Senator Kennedy's website is allowing supporters to submit our memories of Senator Kennedy, and to express our sympathies with the Kennedy family. Selected memories will be displayed on TedKennedy.org.
In addition to written tributes, you can also add photos of yourself with Senator Kennedy (mine is from a 1980 presidential campaign event at the SF home of Richard and Barbara Sklar)
HERE IS THE LINK: http://tedkennedy.org/pages/share_memories
Follow Christine Pelosi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sfpelosi
Rick Horowitz: Kennedy: The Lion at Rest
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, dead at 77 -- and thank goodness for that. None of his three brothers -- his three older brothers -- made it to 70. Or 60. Or even 50.
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My first memory of Ted Kennedy is as an eleven year old boy, who couldn't actually see him but heard his words at the graveside as his brother was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. It was dark, and tv technology back then wasn't what it is now. On our black & white screen, even vauge shapes were virtually impossible to make out, but the voices rang through clearly in their Boston accents. I will always remember Ted's words to his brother that night, and most poigniently, his voice cracking towards the end. As I grew up and matured, I watched him mature as a person and as a legislator. He was not without fault in his life - none of us are. However, anyone who says he didn't devote his life's work towards trying to ensure all people got a fair shot in life, and that all people regardless of their station in life were entitled to basic human decency should be ashamed of themself.
Wow! I'm a freedom loving Aussie and I find this paranoia over decent pubic health care amazing.
We've had it for almost 30 years.
I've expounded on this in many of Huffo's threads but let me simply say... America you deserve better, do not believe the Conservative lies.
NB: It took two goes in my country to get universal Medicare established. The Conservatives got rid of it when they got voted back in. The Labor Party re-established it at the next election after that. And although they have undermined it every time they got back into power the Conservatives don't dare try to get rid of it again. What I am getting at here is you have to push HARD for it- it's NOT going to happen through bi-partisanship.
RIP Big Ted
I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who have been inspired to a life of public service by the Kennedy family. Whether by actually meeting them, or just by following their examples, these people include everyone from local volunteers to Presidents of the United States. Whatever you thought of them as individuals, or of the problems in their personal lives (otherwise known as "being human"....:-), they have shown countless thousands of people that service to their fellow humans is a noble endeavor. Thank you for your post, which reminds us again how many lives Sen. Kennedy has touched............
In a life that is littered with ironies, here's the biggest one of all: His three older brothers - Joe, Jack and Bobby - are eternally frozen in our imagination as the personifications of youth and vigor (or "vigah"). How poignant that our final image of the baby of that family will be as an old man, frail and mortally ill.
His was the most impressive evolution in American political history. Let's be honest; in 1962 the guy was a lightweight. He ran for the Democratic nomination against another young man, Edward McCormick, whose uncle was the speaker of the House of Representatives. During a debate McCormick told him that were it not for his name, his candidacy would be viewed as a joke. It was a point well made. It is obvious when looking at film of that campaign that our boy Ted is in way over his head.
Who would have dared dream all those years ago that this punk kid would one day evolve into the greatest senator ever to walk those halls?
An incredible realization just came to me: Teddy represented the state of Massachusetts for forty-six years, eight months and nineteen days. That is nearly three months longer than all the years his older brother Jack lived on earth. Forgive the cliche that is so overused it has become trite through repetition, but this really is the end of an era.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
Tom, you make an inspiring point ~ few realize that Ted Kennedy served longer than his brothers lived. Thanks for putting his public service in perspective. No wonder so many of us feel as though part of our childhood has died.
He is right. It is the end of a time. Now may we pick up the gauntlet and make new times. it is up to us to create the new dreams.
Thank you, Christine. By the way, loved Journeys With George. I was looking at it only last week.
All the best,
Tom Degan
Being just old enough to remember when JKF was murdered, and remembering when RFK was murdered it is with some relief the same thing did not befall Ted. His lagacy will live on for generations. He withstood personal setbacks, had his own failings. He dedicated his life to something bigger than himself.
Who in the congress can say they have the passion that Ted had? Real passion and not just partisanship is rare, and I fear you will not see this type again. Our system is sliding down a very slippery slope of entrenched camps where neither one can hear the other over the screaming. As Obama tries his best to listen to all sides the din under him is just what Ted would have tried so hard to get past.
A very nice quick take!
Remember Mary Jo? She did not deserve what happened to her, yet it was the result of the path to being an Icon. Mr. Kennedy was a human being with lots of faults - keep him and our government in the proper perspective.
Is anyone else getting a little sick of the overuse of the term icon?
yes.
You could always move on to another blog...
Pass this health care reform!!!! TedCare
Reform away, just keep the government "option" out. Tort reform would be a good place to start. We don't need anymore John Edwards'.
Remember Michael Jackson, when you discuss 'Tort Reform". All doctors and hospitals are not created equal and one size does not fit all, which is what tort reform will try to legislate.
Are you related to Nancy Pelosi?
Yes, I am her daughter.
Wow! Cool.
My extended family will accept no less than the goals put forth by Senator Kennedy's with regard to health reform. NO LESS. People can carry guns and 'liberty" signs and call on the nation's founders and jump up and down, but that doesn't help my family members who need the elimination of pre-existing conditions, no penalty for pre-existing conditions, portability, guarantee no drop provisions, "excelusion of coverage" because the insurance company incorporated in a certain state, eg. what's good for America.
Don't blame conservatives for your woes, if that's your implication.
I would.
Are you on welfare?
No greater example can be shown, that it is not wealth that is at the root of all the ills of this nation, but greed.
Senator Kennedy and his family, have wealth beyond compare, but they never stopped fighting for the least of us. Sacrificing in every way, including the lives of three beloved brothers, (Joe in WWll, as well as Jack and Bobby) to help make this a better nation for all it's citizens.
This is why the Kennedys are so beloved in this nation.
They have always fought for EVERY citizen, not just the top two percent. They are not champions of the wealthy, but the people's champions. Fighting for justice for all, and justice for this planet we call home.
The dream lives on. God speed Senator Kennedy! Medicare For All!
RIP Senator Kennedy. Lets get health care done asap.
Agreed. We know what Kennedy wanted us to do - universal healthcare - let's get it done.
A beautiful tribute to a legend of American politics.
"The hope still lives and the dream will never die."
See Jonathan Kim's Profile
for everyone on Twitter, please use #DoItForTeddy with all your tweets calling for REAL HEALTHCARE REFORM NOW. This could be the rallying cry progressives have wanted and the dems have failed to provide.
#DoItForTeddy
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