A moment of silence for one of the greatest, most-effective and prolific politicians in our nation’s history, Senator Edward Kennedy:
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His passing is a tremendous loss not only to our country, to others as well. From his fight against the Vietnam war, to leading the cause to sanction South Africa for apartheid, from voting against the Iraq War and fighting to end it to his large part in securing a peace treaty in Northern Ireland that ended decades of battle between the I.R.A. and the United Kingdom. He was even knighted (honorarily) for his role in the affair.
He has been a champion of the common man, despite his wealthy status, from his fight to bring justice to the underprivileged to social programs that helped to elevate the social status of many Americans. His life-long fight to bring health care to all Americans has left a legacy of hope and generosity that has inspired many Americans, like myself, to not give up the dream of creating a better world.
(Here is a brief listing of his accomplishments.)
To many, he carried the torch of the Kennedy legacy. He stood up as a staunch Liberal, even when it was unfashionable to do so and witnessed at the end of his life, a rebirth of the cause.
To many, he was the larger than life, an unbreakable lion of the Senate, who stuck it to his political enemies simply by triumphing in his effectiveness.
Ted Kennedy’s passing is more than just the loss of a great man, it is the end of an era.
He fought till the end, standing tall and speaking at the 2008 Democratic Convention, despite his illness, and even on his death-bed, tried to convince the Governor of Massachusetts to replace his seat with a Democratic Senator, in hopes to keep the fight for health care going.
Senator Dodd, longtime friend of Kennedy and partner in the fight for health care, among a great many others, say the best way to honor Kennedy is to keep the fight for health care alive. “Win one for Teddy!” I wholeheartedly agree.
The Huffington Post has compiled a list of tributes from prominent names. It is a testament of what a remarkable man Ted Kennedy was.
Despite his passing from this life to the next, to quote the man himself, “the hope still lives and the dream shall never die!”