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Compassion, Politics and Senator Kennedy
Just last week, I found myself wondering if politics and compassion, politics and the compassion of Jesus the Christ, if you will, can really mix. I wondered if justice was the goal of politicians, not justice for the powerful but justice for those who are floundering and drowning for lack of justice.
The question swirled in my mind because as I have listened to the debates over health-care reform, I have heard a sharp lack of compassion as some people and some lawmakers have seemingly ignored the plight of the 46 million people in this nation who do not have health care, or access to health care.
I also wondered because I hear genuine care for "the least of these" -- as Jesus called them -- in President Obama's push for reform, even as I have a deep cynicism from people calling the president a fraud and a fake.
But with the passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy, I am reminded that a precious few can carry both: a passion for politics shaped by a belief in justice and guided by deep compassion.
For more than 47 years, Sen. Kennedy pushed for universal health care. He always seemed to working to give voice to the voiceless. He worked for civil rights, voting rights, Medicare and Medicaid, for Americans with disabilities and for the elderly. He worked for poor and disabled children as he helped push through the No Child Left Behind Act.
Kennedy saw and hard the people whom so many politicians only notice at election time. He saw them and heard them all of the time, and felt their pain and struggles.
Kennedy was a Liberal, and never backed down from it. For him, "Liberal" meant one who cared about "the least of these." Newt Gingrich and others made tried to turn the word "Liberal" into a horrible word, but Kennedy never let their demonization of liberal causes dissuade him or throw him off his game.
Conservatives tagged him as a typical "big government, tax and spend Liberal." Perhaps he was, in some ways. But he stayed the course, a course was forged by compassion. It seemed that his compassion helped him be the politician he was. Politics was, to him, the necessity to hear the people who had so little, and to finagle those with clogged ears and hearts to perhaps consider the cause and plight of others.
His politics seemed guided by his faith; the two were inextricable. There was no need for him to offer religious dribble to impress people with his faith; he lived his faith by pushing compassionate legislation in a place and time when compassion was not so much valued.
He worked to "let justice roll down like a river," as the prophet Amos wrote. Prophetically, he continued to press those who otherwise would not have listened, heard or acted.
In later days, even Nancy Reagan, whose politics were obviously much different than the senator's, found common ground. Sen. Kennedy's push for stem cell research resonated with Mrs. Reagan, who has deep commitment to that cause.
Justice, rolling down like a rush of water, can bore its way through to fruition. The senator knew that.
He fought the fight for justice in an arena where greed and insensitivity often is the formidable opponent. He pushed against the status quo because his compassion would not allow him to do otherwise.
Kennedy showed me and all of us that there can be compassion in politics, that the compassion taught and modeled by Jesus the Christ can co-exist with politics, however rarely.
Senator Kennedy's work was a light for those who cannot find light themselves. Thank you, Senator.
By
Susan K. Smith
|
August 26, 2009; 4:26 AM ET
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Posted by: b1tolove1 | September 3, 2009 11:07 PM
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Thank you for the wonderful words on Senator Kennedy. It helps us to remember how important "compassion " is. We must continue to feel with our hearts and not be afraid to show our soft side.
Posted by: gardenstate | September 3, 2009 7:21 PM
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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.
Posted by: persiflage | August 29, 2009 8:18 AM
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I don't know a lot about his politics, but any politician who truly does stand up for "the least of these" and has compassion for real justice, not just for the rich and powerful, needs to be applauded. Unfortunately, the politicians of this day and age have one underlying agenda, and that is to make sure that the top stay on top. I'd like to challenge the politicians who are so vehemently opposed to universal health care to give up their health insurance plan, and live without health insurance, like millions of Americans do each day. I'd like for them to have to make a choice between buying food for their house or medicine for their children, and see how loud they want to debate against universal health care. We need more leaders like Ted Kennedy who truly care about those people. Compassion and politics living side by side is certainly a rarity, but when it does happen, it needs to be lifted up, but more importantly those ideals need to be passed on to other politicians.
Posted by: spellady08 | August 27, 2009 9:56 AM
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"Chappaquiddick" by anyone else would have meant five years minimum for manslaughter.
Posted by: ccnl1 | August 26, 2009 11:10 PM
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In his words, as in life, he was a politician unafraid to compassionately address issues in a direct and occasionally controversial manner. Now he can say, I have fought the fight, finished the race and kept the faith. Peace be upon him. Thank you for your eloquent memorializing words!
Posted by: tyson41 | August 26, 2009 2:36 PM
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Thank you for writing such a powerful tribute to an true American giant!
Posted by: Jamila1 | August 26, 2009 1:37 PM
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Written so well and he truly showed us how to be a champion of causes to the very end. Thank you Pastor for sharing!!