RIP, Ted Kennedy

[teaberryblue]

I lived in Massachusetts for two years. In that time, I had the honor of being served in the Senate by one of the most progressive Senators in Congress. In spite of coming from a family of tremendous wealth, Ted Kennedy's support was always with ordinary people who didn't always know how they were going to pay their bills. In spite f being older, from an earlier generation, he was always singular in his ability to look to the future in a way that is usually reserved for young people.

If you haven't yet read it, I think the best way to honor this man is to read the article he wrote for Newsweek not too long ago.

This man has been fighting so hard for us to all receive the kind of quality health care that he does. I hope we can continue his fight with renewed passion and hope even if he is no longer alive to see the fruits of his labor.

Comments

[liret.livejournal.com]

Original comment: Politically, it's too bad, because he supported things I'm in favor of. But I can't take too much mourning over the death of a man who was able to murder a girl and have it barely impact his career.

I think if it was definitely murder if he was drunk - I don't see drunk driving as a mistake, it's a choice. But you're right, that's a big if.

I do, though, have a hard time beliving that if he wasn't a Kennedy and a senator he wouldn't been charged more severely, since all investigations agreed the driving was at least, neglegent. I don't think this is anything Kennedy did, on purpose, but there was obvious political pressure or outright intimidation on people involved with the incident, from the grand jury members upward. Ted Kennedy didn't ask for this, but he benefited from who he was.

This makes me less sympathetic then I would be for a more average person. And that isn't entirely fair, I know, but I also feel like someone with so much else going for them doesn't need my kindly thoughts.

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

I think the difference here is that I think the way he was treated should be the status quo and the way other people who don't have his family should be treated like he was. I don't think he should have gotten off worse-- I think a lot of other people should have gotten off better.

I also think that the expectation we can have of someone driving drunk in the past 20 years is different from 1969. It's like smoking while pregnant-- I think it's unconscionable to do it today, but that has been after huge campaigns to bring the issue to light.