Young People: Carry on Kennedy's Torch of Caring for Those with Less

The loss of Senator Kennedy is enormous, to his family, to his colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and to the country. In this moment, let's do one thing: for those of us who were graced to know Sen. Kennedy and the values he represents, pass it on to young people.

The irony that health care legislation is falling apart during this punishing summer: Ted Kennedy's voice is what was missing from this debate.

If Ted Kennedy had been the one to shepherd health care, as President Obama intended, we'd probably have a consensus. Only Kennedy could have brought Republicans over to the bill. Only Kennedy could have expressed to the country the reason for going further than you might think you need to on health care.

Senator Kennedy was hard-wired to care for the ordinary man. His ability to make people think about why core democratic principles matter is now gone, and it is up to those who know him to carry it on.

Notice that is not "Democratic" principles; it is "democratic" principles.

Amidst the bitter partisan fights of this summer and a country possessed by malaise, the core of the argument for significant health care legislation has been lost. Americans are angry because they feel no connection to the meaning behind the message.

After his loss as a presidential candidate in 1980, Sen. Kennedy said this: "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die." Let's prove him right by working as he did, not as a partisan, but as an American.

The message is this: we are one country. We are in this together. If you don't have health care and I do, we will both pay for it in the end. We are not Democrats or Republicans, we are Americans. The reason to do something meaningful is to help society and not look first at your own self-interest.

This philosophy was embodied by Ted Kennedy, and we will wait for a leader to step up to the plate and lead the way he did. Public service is for the greater good. Public service is a calling. Public service is not greedy or bad or to be mistrusted: it is for the good of our country.

Let's shake out of the partisan finger-pointing of this summer and rise up. If we don't teach young people Kennedy's, and our democracy's values, our country will be without them.

Comments

[creolechild]

If you are concerned about receiving "real" health care reform in this country, please take the time to watch a video on our current system. The video was created by Oregon physicians who are advocating for the single-payer option. The video is very informative and helped me to gain a better understanding of various aspect of health care, as we know now it.

https://www.madashelldoctorstour.com/Mad_as_Hell_Video.html

These Oregon physicians are in the process of organizing a caravan designed to inform the public about the benefits of the single-payer option. At last count they will be stopping in approximately 23 states, on their way to demonstrate in Washington. They need volunteers and our support. Please spread the word.

[fuel4thefire]

The baby boomers ( and i am one) also need to take a few days to reflect back on those years when JFK and RFK inspired them to serve this great nation of ours and make positive changes that would benefit the American people in the advancement of civil rights, human rights, and equal rights; distracted for too long by the failure to defeat Nixonian politics and the debacle of the Viet Nam war; locked up tight for too long by Reaganomics where people were convinced to simply serve themselves and believe that public entitlement programs were anti-American; misinformed for too long by a press that cares more about the speed in which to break a story rather than the integrity thereof; now with the passing of the last brother, Senator Ted Kennedy, we need to acknowledge that we have some unfinished business and we should start with demanding the passage of legislation for affordable healthcare for every American. Ted Kennedy saw affordable healthcare as a human right, worth fighting for to the end of his days. Can we do no less?

[maryyooch]

"After his loss as a presidential candidate in 1980, Sen. Kennedy said this: "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die." Let's prove him right by working as he did, not as a partisan, but as an American. "

Teddy Kennedy was truly one of a kind. He seemed to be the only one in Congress to speak for the less fortunate. My family and I always thought he would have been one of the greatest Presidents.
It is only fitting that Health Care Reform should be passed as he wrote it. After he gave his life to public service, it would be the best way to honor him.

Teddy, may you rest in peace.

[BamBam2012]

Well said, Tackora--those so-called representitives should take a page out of Senator Kennedy's book and try doing the right thing!

All the lies & deceptions they are spreading make me sooooo angry! It's shameful! They all oughta be tarred & feathered, then run out of town on a rail--and I mean that!

[Tackora]

Very nice thoughts, we certainly hope that young people will carry on with Ted Kennedy's fight for the good of country and people.
At this very moment, however, Ted Kennedy's passing should rather be a wakeup call for old powerful political hands; STOP YOUR HORRIFIC, CORRUPT DEALINGS, STOP HURTING THE COUNTRY, STOP RUINING THE FUTURE OF YOUR OWN CHILDREN.
Kennedy was 77, but neither his age nor his condition could blur his vision about what helps life in this wonderful country and what hurts us. I wish it could be said about the rest of the old political establishment. To honor this great American, they should at least pretend for a few days that they still have remnants of what make decent human beings.

[BamBam2012]

As an American who became disabled 15 years ago, at the age of 38, and as a resident of Massachusetts, I benefited greatly from any number of programs made available to me--programs created by Senator Kennedy.

He had the heart of a lion, and the soul of a saint. He was champion to, and for, people like me, and I'm sure that I speak for many, many Americans when I say thank you, Senator Kennedy, and God bless you.

You will be missed, Uncle Teddy.