Legacy of the lion of the political jungle
by Steen Miles
It is necessary to weigh in on the death of Ted Kennedy, dubbed appropriately the Lion–the lion of the political jungle. His was a legacy of love–of God, family and friends. The word friend included mankind, persons known and unknown. I, a child of Camelot, simply sat in my den with tears welling up in my eyes when the word came down that the last of the Kennedy brothers had succumbed to the ravages of an inoperable brain tumor. Then I simply smiled and saluted.
In true regal form, Ted Kennedy battled the disease with dignity. The disease would win the physical battle, but lose the ultimate war. It could not take Kennedy’s spirit or his soul.
Kennedy did all that he could legislatively and personally to get his affairs in order in these final months. He then retreated to his lair to await transformation to the spirit world. It is reliably reported that his final hours were spent in prayer with his priest and surrounded by family and friends. He reportedly said that he looked forward to a reunion with the seven siblings who had preceded him to the other side, the most recent Eunice on Aug. 11.
One has to be struck by the sacrifice and phenomenal service of this remarkable dynasty. They gave us working models of “to whom much is given much is required.” “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” “Some ask why; others why not.” The Kennedys withstood incredible life tragedies of plane crashes and assassinations and mental illness and other human frailties. Yet, with an indefatigable spirit and steely resolve they persevered and gave this nation and the world that which God himself would have us give – the best of ourselves unconditionally.
It is not necessary in this space to try to recount the innumerable contributions of Ted Kennedy. But his long legislative career resulted in so many of the social services available today to senior citizens, minorities, women, labor, veterans, the mentally and physically frail. His politics were anything to make life better for the least and the lost, and he had the ability and respect of both sides of the political aisle in successfully moving legislation forward.
Yesteryear’s headlines of Kennedy’s shortcomings are getting short shrift in today’s report of a life revived and well spent. He is lauded as one of the greatest statesmen in American history. While he never became president, history has recorded that his accomplishments ended up surpassing those of his assassinated brothers John F., the president and his brother Bobby, the attorney general.
It is believed that Ted Kennedy’s uncompromised endorsement of then candidate Barack Obama was the pivot point that gave us President Obama. It is fervently hoped that Kennedy’s decades-long quest for universal health care will be realized. That our nation’s legislative leaders will understand as Kennedy has so often said, that health care for every American should be a right and not a privilege. The naysayers who wail with the myths about socialism, should make certain that they work to rescind other “socialist” government programs such as Social Security, small business loans, big business tax breaks or student education loans. All of these government programs are designed to lift the least.
Mr. Kennedy used himself as an example of the astronomical medical costs a family faces with a catastrophic illness. Surgery for a brain tumor or other serious maladies could wipe out a family’s savings and mortgage everything they have. Prescription medicines are another matter entirely. Mr. Kennedy often drove home the point that he could afford the high costs of treatment. But what about the average working class family? What about the millions of Americans who have no health insurance whatsoever?
The legacy of Ted Kennedy, the Lion of politics, is one of love, unconditional love that views others as ourselves. Passage of the president’s health reforms with the Lion’s paw print will be one giant step toward civilizing the jungle.
Steen Miles, The Newslady, is a retired journalist and former Georgia state senator. Contact Steen Milies at Steen@dekalbchamp.com. |
