London in New York

For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die. -Ted Kennedy, 1980 Democratic National Convention Address

The conscience of a nation passed this evening and I am beside myself. As my father once stated so eloquently:

You will never see a more beautiful politician than John F. Kennedy You will never hear a more eloquent politician than Robert F. Kennedy You will, however, never see a more determined politician than Teddy Kennedy.

To live in the shadows of great men is humbling. To eclipse them through the sheer force of one’s will, determination and passion to insure that we as a people never forget about society’s forgotten is my friends the greatest accomplishment of them all. Ted Kennedy stood for justice and compassion, always, for those who often received neither and in his unwavering determination and discipline he eclipsed those who came before him. I can relate to the challenge on some level. In my family I have had to maneuver and make my way despite the talents, vision and beauty of my brothers who are in many respects far greater than mine. Each and every one of my brothers have gifts that I do not, qualities and character that I do not. This is the Kennedy Legacy best embodied and exemplified by the spirit of Senator Edward M. (”Teddy”) Kennedy. Champion of the underdogs.

An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest senator of our time. His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws, and reflected in millions of lives,” Barack Obama, President of the United States.

As I sit here with tears in my eyes reminded by my father who has passed, why I should forever keep my eye on you and what you have done, I choose to ignore your detractors, those who may choose to highlight aspects of your rather imperfect life, your flaws and mistakes. Yet, I can only imagine that it was the character of your soul that made you devote your life to the people that mattered, those without a voice and those without political leverage. You could have compromised and perhaps become President. You could have sold your soul and become John McCain, but the honor of your life is that you never forgot about the little people, regardless of how tempting it was to do so. I am humbled by your submission of service to the most forgotten in our society. And for that reason, my tears are not for naught. We live in a world where we celebrate the ridiculous. Sir, I choose to never forget your spirit and service towards those least able to protect themselves in our society. Perhaps the reason why there are broken hearts over your passing all over America is because, as Vice President Biden stated: “The unique thing about Teddy was he was never about him. It was always about you. It was never about him.”

God bless you Senator Edward M. Kennedy. I have never met you, nor can my words match the eloquence of our local New York leaders who paid tribute to you today, but know that to me and my kin, you will always be simply Teddy, a man among men, a humble man, a great man, a man never to be forgotten. And finally as aptly stated by Patricia Duff:

The Common Good would like to acknowledge the passing of an American political icon, Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Senator Kennedy was best known as one of the most influential, outspoken and effective proponents of progressive causes. Always at the center of any important national debate, Senator Kennedy often championed values also shared by The Common Good,“ fairness, tolerance, justice and compassion, and a willingness to work with both his friends and his political opponents to find common ground.

Ted Kennedy will never be defined by a single event or tragedy;his life’s work averted many other tragedies. So, while the progressive voice may have dimmed with Kennedy’s passing, the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans and because of that hope rises again and the dream lives on but there is still work to be done. We must never forget that for the dream to live on we cannot and shall not count exclusively on the voice of one man, one family or any small group of individuals. As much as we may honor and revere leaders like Ted Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, John F. Kennedy and Paul Wellstone for their contributions, the movement lives on and shall depend on the many never ending individual acts of responsible engaged citizens.

SEE ALSO
-Ted Kennedy.org: Memorial Site
-Daily Kos: Sen. Ted Kennedy Has Passed Away
-NY Times (Obituary): Edward M. Kennedy, Senate Stalwart, Dies
-RFK Center For Justice & Human Rights
-Moveon.org: The Dream Shall Never Die
-The Huffington Post: Ted Kennedy Big News Page
-Boston.com: Ted Kennedy. A Life in Politics
-Boston.com: Edward M. Kennedy 1932-2009
-Vanity Fair:The Making of a Senator
-Wikipedia: Ted Kennedy
-President Obama: “Kennedy the greatest Senator of our time.”
-Robert Reich’s blog: Ted Kennedy
-NNDB Profile
-NY Times: Networks Schedule Tributes to Kennedy

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