I Probably Should Not Write This, But……

We all are aware by now of the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. His death at age 77 came after a valiant battle with cancer. That in itself is something that so many can identify with. Our heartfelt sympathies go to his family and those who counted him as a friend. I have noticed  a lot that has been written about his life and career in the days since his passing. Although I was on the opposite of the Senator on most political issues, I have no problem with much of what has been written. He served 47 years in the Senate, third longest ever and he  accomplished a great deal in that time.

The issue that is troubling me is some of the very over the top comments that have been written. I have  a theory about that which I will share  a bit later. Just read over a few of these comments and reflect on them as if you did not know who was being discussed. Said Alec Baldwin, he was a person our  country could  not have done without  because he was one who lived to become an effective and great political leader. Another take comes from columnist  Eugene Robinson about the prince who was destined to never become king. Mr Robinson called the 1980 concession speech at the Democratic National Convention  or at least its closing, ” as powerful and succinct a manifesto as any public figure in this country has ever delivered.” Ok. There is a bit more and admittedly I have a bit of trouble with this characterization of Mr Kennedy. “ …we sorely miss Kennedy’s moral clarity.”

The final one comes from the Huffington Post from  Melissa Lafsky. She   wondered what Mary Jo Kopechne would have thought of the Senator’s career and maybe  the  fact that her death in the accident was worth it. It was in a sense, that tragedy that simultaneously ended his bid for the presidency and pushed his Senate career on to the fast track, as it were.

Now for my theory. Sadly, his two older brothers, actually three, when you count Joe, Jr’s death in WWII, died tragically and young. There was not an opportunity for the nation to appropriately celebrate them and their accomplishments  without mourning how they died. Just a thought.

Doubtless, the Senator’s will affect the political landscape as well as the debate over his signature issue of health care reform. But there will be time for that and it need  not be over sensationalized.