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Senator Kennedy's Hope, and Heart for the Good Fight
"For me this is a season of hope, new hope for a justice and fair prosperity for the many, and not just for the few -- new hope. And this is the cause of my life: new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American, north, south, east, west, young, old, will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege."
Senator Kennedy spoke those words last year, at his moving speech at the Democratic National Convention. This week, brain cancer took his life, but not his hope -- nor the aspirations of millions of Americans -- for a "just and fair prosperity."
Now, who will fight for those Americans? With Senator Kennedy's passing, many fear that there is no one else in American public life who has the heart and the soul to fight simply for what is right, to rise above the degrading rhetoric of the worst of politics and call us to a higher political will in America. Who now will speak for the powerless, the voiceless and those disregarded by the powerful? Who will fight simply for what is right?
Senator Kennedy was a person of enormous heart, and depth of conviction. He was also no saint; his flaws and his strengths illustrated all too well a fundamental fact about human nature. We all have the capacity for great good, and for great failings. What Kennedy always seemed to me to embody, however, is that it is in those very human failings that sometimes people find a way to transcend the worst and reach for the best. Did Kennedy reach down into his own flawed nature for that joyous energy that he used to fight for fundamental human rights? For despite all the tragedies and difficulties in his life, it was the joy that is most remembered.
It is the joyous smile and the infectious wit that I remember. I only met Senator Kennedy once, when I was invited to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Judge John Roberts confirmation hearings. I had read the documents released by Judge Roberts and I became concerned about his very narrow readings on search and seizure, and I thought he was far too lax on issues of religious establishment.
A Republican Senator taxed me very hard on my criticism of Judge Roberts; I replied that perhaps I would have had a different opinion had Roberts released more of his papers for us to examine. This had been a key bone of contention leading up to the hearings.
Senator Kennedy looked at me when I said this, smiled a smile I can only describe as "pukish", and gave me a thumbs up. It was such an infectious grin and spontaneous gesture that I had a hard time not responding in kind--I tried to restrain myself as I was on camera and he was not!
Later that day, at a reception, I spoke to Senator Kennedy for the one and only time in my life. He told me that he liked what I had to say; he especially liked my use of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech in my testimony. I told him that I thought we had no chance in opposing John Roberts. He replied, "You fight the good fights, remember that."
I do remember it. Especially today. Fundamental human rights like health care for all are worth fighting for.
And smile when you fight the good fight. For it is a joy and a gift to try to do what's right.
Senator Kennedy knew that.
By
Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
|
August 26, 2009; 10:12 AM ET
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Posted by: persiflage | August 29, 2009 8:21 AM
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RIP Mary Jo
Posted by: philoernie | August 29, 2009 7:53 AM
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Hmmm, a pagan with a strong biblical bent!! Interesting!! Maybe some "cyaing"??
Posted by: ccnl1 | August 29, 2009 12:26 AM
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You would be surprised at how much of the Bible I know, CCNL. I have no problem with Jesus, just with his followers.
Posted by: Athena4 | August 28, 2009 4:47 PM
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Oh, I'll *bet* the National Review has many lovely things to say about Senator Kennedy.
Posted by: Athena4 | August 28, 2009 4:45 PM
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And juries are somehow professional jurists?
Hmmm, and a pagan quoting the bible as it was the gospel truth? Interesting!!
And indeed, "Judge not", Matt 7:1 fails the historic review by NT and historic Jesus exegetes such as Professor JD Crossan, an On Faith panelist i.e. simply more words that Matthew (and Luke) put into the simple preacher man's mouth to make him into some kind of god.
Posted by: ccnl1 | August 28, 2009 4:42 PM
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Hmmm, a pagan quoting the bible as it was the gospel truth? Interesting!!
And indeed, "Judge not", Matt 7:1 fails the historic review by NT and historic Jesus exegetes such as Professor JD Crossan, an On Faith panelist i.e. simply more words the Matthew (and Luke) put into the simple preacher man's mouth to make him into some kind of god.
Posted by: ccnl1 | August 28, 2009 4:38 PM
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"With Senator Kennedy's passing, many fear that there is no one else in American public life who has the heart and the soul to fight simply for what is right, to rise above the degrading rhetoric of the worst of politics and call us to a higher political will in America."
Thistle, you really went over the top this time. Log on to www.nationalreview.com to read some realistic appraisals of the good senator.
Posted by: hipshot | August 28, 2009 2:44 PM
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Their jobs. Are you a professional judge?
Oh, I'm sorry. Your Crossanized version of the Bible must not have had Jesus saying "Judge not, lest ye be judged."
The judgement of Ted Kennedy was made by the people of the Massachussetts when he was re-elected. He has more than made up for the loss of that one life by introducing legislation that has bettered the lives of so many - including protecting our soldiers in the field. Can you weigh the accidental loss of one life against so many that were saved or bettered? Can anyone?
Posted by: Athena4 | August 28, 2009 11:51 AM
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Hmmm, so juries and judges do what??
Posted by: ccnl1 | August 27, 2009 5:12 PM
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In 1963, Laura Bush ran a stop sign resulting in a fatal car accident that killed her friend in another car. The driver of the other car was her classmate Michael Dutton Douglas. According to the accident report released by the city of Midland, neither driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and no charges were filed. According to Bush's spokesperson, "It was a very tragic accident that deeply affected the families and was very painful for all involved, including the community at large. To this day, Mrs. Bush remains unable to talk about it."
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
Posted by: Athena4 | August 27, 2009 11:41 AM
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One word summarizes Ted Kennedy's life, "Chappaquiddick". He committed vehicular homicide i.e. driving and crashing while drunk and his passenger died. Anyone else would have spent the next 20 years in jail.
Posted by: ccnl1 | August 27, 2009 9:31 AM
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It must be said that while republicans are great critics, they seldom yield great and accomplished politicians.
This has to do with political ideology, pure and simple. Democrats march to a higher cause, flaws and all.
May Ted Kennedy rest in peace.