I get very upset when I hear people speak badly about Ted Kennedy. I've seen some deplorable e-mails and even read some blogs that are really disparaging. I don't care if you agree with what he stood for or not (though I'll get to that in a minute). And I'm not forgetting that he was a flawed human, but I would argue who among us is not.
The way I see it, he was a great man because he dedicated his life to public service. In my book that is one of the greatest things a person can do. It's a quality I admire greatly and feel like I don't do enough. Yes it was easier for him to be in public service because he was a man of wealth, but he dedicated his life to helping those less fortunate. He could have spent all his days doing what he loved, sailing in the Cape, but he didn't. He worked tirelessly for 47 years in the Senate. It is not "attempts by the liberals to elevate him to sainthood" as I've read many write, that has caused respectable Republicans to come out of the woodwork in the past few days to speak of the impact he has had on Congress and this country.
In addition, when you look at him personally, he lost three brothers to this country. He became the substitute Dad to all those children who lost their for their country and later a substitute Grandfather. How can you fault those qualities?
Finally, I would like to say that those of you who would like to speak ill of Senator Kennedy, go ahead. I'd like to be sure and take down your name though so that I could give it to someone and make sure that you don't ever (1) enjoy the benefits for your daughters to participate in sports, (2) utilize the Americans with Disabilities act after any unfortunate situation in your life, (3) enjoy Meals on Wheels when you are older, (4) vote when you turn(ed)18, etc. You know, I'm certain you wouldn't want to benefit from anything that is a result of someone you deplore so much that you essentially are dancing on their grave.
"During my service in the United States Senate, I have often been called a liberal. And it usually was not meant to be a compliment, but I remember what my brother said about liberalism shortly before he was elected President. He said, 'If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties, someone who believes that we can breakthrough the stale mate and suspicion that grips us. If that is what they mean by a liberal, then I am proud to be a liberal." -Senator Kennedy. I say Amen.
I'm stepping off the soapbox now, thank you. Oh yeah, Click on the ABC news link and watch this piece. It ran on Good Morning America this morning and I will be showing it to my students in a little bit.
How Kennedy's Legislation Helped You Today - ABC News
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The way I see it, he was a great man because he dedicated his life to public service. In my book that is one of the greatest things a person can do. It's a quality I admire greatly and feel like I don't do enough. Yes it was easier for him to be in public service because he was a man of wealth, but he dedicated his life to helping those less fortunate. He could have spent all his days doing what he loved, sailing in the Cape, but he didn't. He worked tirelessly for 47 years in the Senate. It is not "attempts by the liberals to elevate him to sainthood" as I've read many write, that has caused respectable Republicans to come out of the woodwork in the past few days to speak of the impact he has had on Congress and this country.
In addition, when you look at him personally, he lost three brothers to this country. He became the substitute Dad to all those children who lost their for their country and later a substitute Grandfather. How can you fault those qualities?
Finally, I would like to say that those of you who would like to speak ill of Senator Kennedy, go ahead. I'd like to be sure and take down your name though so that I could give it to someone and make sure that you don't ever (1) enjoy the benefits for your daughters to participate in sports, (2) utilize the Americans with Disabilities act after any unfortunate situation in your life, (3) enjoy Meals on Wheels when you are older, (4) vote when you turn(ed)18, etc. You know, I'm certain you wouldn't want to benefit from anything that is a result of someone you deplore so much that you essentially are dancing on their grave.
"During my service in the United States Senate, I have often been called a liberal. And it usually was not meant to be a compliment, but I remember what my brother said about liberalism shortly before he was elected President. He said, 'If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties, someone who believes that we can breakthrough the stale mate and suspicion that grips us. If that is what they mean by a liberal, then I am proud to be a liberal." -Senator Kennedy. I say Amen.
I'm stepping off the soapbox now, thank you. Oh yeah, Click on the ABC news link and watch this piece. It ran on Good Morning America this morning and I will be showing it to my students in a little bit.
How Kennedy's Legislation Helped You Today - ABC News
Shared via AddThis
Comments
I love Ted Kennedy. For at least the last 10 years, I have adopted him as my Senator because I refuse to accept that the Senators from Texas actually represent me!