In this month of June, so cruelly significant in the story of Robert Kennedy, remembrances would be expected. The New York Times ran simple and poignant tributes from three of his children, humble, gentle lessons from a life lived greatly. But as the media stuns, slaughters, rends, slices and finally serves up its cleanly packaged news, one might be struck by the sudden eruption of pseudo-reverent tributes linking Barack Obama to the memory of the fallen demigod. Kennedy's virtually mythic life---and death---has been regularly recalled when speaking of the current Democratic presidential nominee; indeed, almost anyone in the public eye armed with the requisite charisma and crowd appeal, in possession of relatively progressive ideas and who can incur the wrath of a clearly defined opposition is immediately compared with RFK or his equally lionized brother; it is, sad to say, as easily as an actress in a sitcom who executes a pratfall being automatically dubbed "the new Lucille Ball". Just a little too convenient and unfair to both parties. Kennedy's political journey and his emotional complexity seemed to defy categorization in life, yet he was perhaps too easily glorified in death, all terribly attractive to those who view history as an opportunity to make money. And without missing a beat, the media is seizing upon RFK's tragic legacy and applying crassly commercial redolence to the Obama phenomenon, rendering his historical movement as a novel way to fill the bottomless cup that is the 24 hour news cycle.
And when former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton utilized Kennedy's assassination as a motivational talking point on three separate occasions to justify her overlong presence in the primaries, Robert Kennedy's life and death became what so much of meaningful history has become: carelessly treated, easily disposable media fodder.
Because hanging over all the Obama-as-Bobby justifiable flattery is the whispered spectre of RFK's end, as if untimely death is an integral part of the plot, as it may seem to be with many pop icons who can all be counted on to flame out. Obama, though his ascension to icon status is assured, can do without the requisite tragic element. His authenticity and vision, however, does need to be protected, not only from the implied nightmare scenarios but from being utterly and pathetically mediocritized by shameless marketing. Obama is the direct result not just of Bobby or Jack or Martin or Malcolm or any other imperfect life perfected by martyrdom, he is the product of over two hundred years of American struggle and triumph, of all the turbulent times and dynamic personalities who dreamed of a better world for future generations of Americans and who called on their fellows to sacrifice for same.
There will only ever be one Robert Kennedy, who, like we all must, took the mortal journey but who of the few was able to do it with humility, intelligence and inspiration, who by turns experienced victory and defeat, hubris and humility, the deepest loss and the greatest glory of self-discovery. In Barack Obama there is all that and, with Robert Kennedy's legacy to act as an incomplete guide to what could be, even more.
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I, too, was alive during Bobbys' run at power and, for the life of me, I can't remember any of his major accomplishments. Would someone please fill me in about those?
During the time Bobby was Attorney General ( big Brother Jack is the Prez! -- case closed), I recall that he once invited a small group of Catholic Theologians from Georgetown U., over to his place in Georgetown to join with them in talking about "God" and other important topics in religion. When the discussion turned on the then-active topic of the "Death of God", Bobby, never having heard such blasphemy, and smelling the stench of heresy, immediately had them dis-invited. So much for intellectual pretenses.
There was only ONE JFK, only ONE RFK, only ONE MLK and no one with any common sense is awaiting the second coming. B arack O bama is unique in our history because of his background, his ethnicity, his powerful charisma, his demeanor, and his calm and reasoned approach to solving problems. There have been many leaders over the ages who have distinguished themselves and lived to a ripe old age. You don' t have to be a martyr to achieve greatness. thanks for another great post Stephen. You're growing on me every time I read your pieces.
The memory of Jack, Martin, Bobby & Malcolm are each a separate tragic memory for me. Each man had a message that uniquely spoke to a critical condition of our country and that portion of our history is bearing fruit this year. There has been a worthwhile journey and while Barack is the nominee, Hillary did run a historic race as well as the first woman with any real opportunity to win.
I want Barack, Hillary and other government servants to live the best ideals of the all the dreams that ended so abruptly.
Let the dreams live on as goals for all to aspire to.
Speaking as a member of the Free Community of Critical Inquirers, our guidelines can be, in our debates, in our conversations, to engage all that is best in our selves, in our humanity, in its totality: Reason, intellect, poetry, idealism, cynicism, doubt, and credulity. Let us open our conversation, to all who wish to participate, at what ever level of expression: Respecting that critical existential vulnerability,of the human person. We can, we must help each other toward our humanity, realized in care. This can be an expression of the "New Politics" of Barak Obama and realized so eloquently by Mr. Weber.
1.
Didn't I read that one of RFKs children had no problem with what Hillarity said? (Yes, I did!)
2.
Was what she said inaccurate? (no)
3.
If you want to be impressed with a presidential candidate (something I'm NOT currently) you owe it to yourself to hear Bobby's speech he gave the night MLK Jr was shot. Here's the link.
http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/rfk.htm
He quotes Aeschylus for god's sake!
Now, compare this OFF THE CUFF, EXTEMPORANEOUS speech with ANY speech Chimpy's given since 2000, or any Hillarity screech (I mean SPEECH) and any speech O'Bama's given SINCE the 2000 convention.
Fuggin FORGET McCain, he's a total idiot.
Bobby would have been a great leader. I can't say the same thing for anyone else running or who has run for prez in 2000-2008.
Amen!
This is a very moving article. I shudder though, with Obama achieving such rock star status due to his incredible charisma, when the media compares him to RFK. It is almost as if they are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Surely, in this nation smarting from past violent political deaths, we can now let the astounding Barack Obama emerge from the shadow of potential assassination and allow him to shine - not as a future martyr - but one who will lead this nation out of the woeful miasma of the Bush years. A President Obama who can lead our country toward hope and real change.
Steven another superb post!
Blake Fleetwood and lostnacfgop,I hope you will both post a comment ,
look forward to reading and pondering your thoughts.
Thanks for pointing out that our murdered & martyared heroes of the 1960's JFK, MLK, RFK were complex, somewhat flawed, mortal men. I'm also grateful that you didn't catalog their flaws for us.
Let those of us who comment on your blog do the cataloging of the flaws which irked them. The venom implicit in a catalog of faults would have weakened Mr Weber's blog & also been flawed writing.
larry lynch
Those writers who say Obama is no RFK are correct. Obama does inspire people in the same way but he is different. He has the potential to be a great president (of course he has to be elected first!). He has the ability to silence his critics and work on moving this country forward. But, it will take all of us to help him do that.
Eloquent as always, Steven, and very important words, because that "...whispered specter" hanging over this reborn movement of 'We the People' - again seeking an America that's 'OUR' country, needs belief his 'second' proves as dedicated to the visionary and inspiring ideals as is he. Forces that would destroy 'OUR hope', just to retain tenuous grips on power, might be thwarted by a bit of thoughtful foresight.
The era of J. Edgar Hoover's 'other closet' is perhaps yet to be exposed as the most corrupt and dark in OUR country's history, one in which we suspect horrific and deadly hypocrisies, secretly used to crush OUR then growing sense of freedom, betrayed us all. We must believe such dark designs could never again reach the evil levels of eliminating anything that 'gets in the way'. Yet, after fall of empires like the Soviet Union, fear of such repercussions as the '68 riots might seem minor by comparison, as a now more informed and armed citizenry, so betrayed, could possibly believe this union is no longer worth trying to save. Just imagining the birth of such very darker times, spawns thoughts of 'head for the hills', or 'run for the border', as one might wish to be anywhere but here.
WE must hope and believe such eras are gone and that sanity, and peaceful progress, can prevail. For, it may not just be OUR country at stake here, but many species, or even a habitable Gaea itself ...if that sanity fails.
Thank you Mr. Weber.
Poignant and needed.
For all those who posted below, we must always have hope and acknowledge that it is up to the people to decide our country's future. For one fact remains constant, due to our actions or inactions we will always have the government we deserve.
"¦Robert Kennedy's life and death became what so much of meaningful history has become: carelessly treated, easily disposable media fodder."
This not the corrupt media"s fault but the gullible, fearful, and challenged public"s fault. The marginalized and suspect media would starve without the uninformed couch potato, the stargazing groupie, and the lobotomized zealot.
"Obama is the direct result not just of Bobby or Jack or Martin or Malcolm or any other imperfect life perfected by martyrdom, he is the product of over two hundred years of American struggle and triumph, of all the turbulent times and dynamic personalities who dreamed of a better world for future generations of Americans and who called on their fellows to sacrifice for same."
Never forget this point. No single human eclipses the idea of love, justice, and compassionate service. In this way the spirit of the idea of a dream cannot be assasinated only the flesh of one a dream reflects through as a luminous prism of guiding promise. The only thing that can kill the idea of a dream is the unwillingness of the people to keep it alive. Death comes to a dream by measure of hypocrisy, degree of selfishness, and severity of human frailty. The dream remains vibrant and viable through a desire by the believers of the idea to press on long after a guding light appears distinguished. RFK, MLK, Malcolm X, JFK, and many other guiding lights shine today because some embraced the spirit of their ideas.
One could hope but don't hold your breath. I love the Obama family but I have a lot of STUPID relatives who will vote rethug JUST because of B's skin color. And they have been Dems all their life but he's a bit TOO DARK FOR them. Go figure, but I do live in the racist south - Tennessee.
sowhatdemos, hang out in boston, chicago, philly, ny....and tell me about 'the racist' south...having lived in the from maine to arizona, from the upper midwest to the southeast, i have yet to find a part of the country that could be called more or less racist than any other...but, i guess stereotyping is easier than thinking
If a may, I would like to add a short photo essay, especially for Boomers who were there in 1968.
"1968-2008 Forty Years"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/
Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects...
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Posted June 6, 2008 | 08:13 PM (EST)