The Lion of the Senate drifts off to Camelot

"I hope for an America where neither "fundamentalist" nor "humanist" will be a dirty word, but a fair description of the different ways in which people of good will look at life and into their own souls." Senator Edward Kennedy spoke those words during a Speech for Truth and Tolerance in America, Oct 1983.

Thank you Senator Kennedy. You gave me hope for America. Perhaps I am too young to remember the scandals that have shadowed your brilliant career, or the vices that so many have tried to make synonymous with not only you, but apparently your lineage........In my lifetime, you have been a champion in the fight for civil rights, rights for the disabled, for education, for seniors, for immigrants, for womens rights....More than 300 bills were written by you and passed, you signed and helped pass over 500 more...You, a liberal by all accounts, expertly worked with those on the opposing side, finding always common ground to further good causes. You took your job seriously...perhaps for respect, or redemption, as some suggest.... but I suspect it was because of a deep belief in humanity, a deeper sense of responsibility, and a real vision of what we could be if we work harder. As a child I learned about the roles your brothers played in our history. Growing up, I benefited from the role you played in our lives. As a mother to a special needs child, I am indebted to the work and the compassion your sister Eunice embodied as she pioneered the Special Olympic movement, as well as the work you put into the disabilities act. America is all the better because the Kennedy's had a vision, because the Kennedy's were passionate about public service, because the Kennedy's believed in equality, in quality of life, because they did ask what they can do for their country, and because they did dream big.

It's easy to focus on the flaws of those we insist live up to standards no one possibly could, and do it all under public scrutiny. But Senator Kennedy, despite his past, in spite of his alcoholism, was able to remind us all that we have an obligation to each other, to our families, to our communities, to our children, to our elders, to ourselves, to our country. He was larger than life, he was flawlessly human.

And now the Great Senator of Massachusetts is gone, just when we need him the most. We need someone in that Senate that could find common ground and work towards fair, good and necessary causes, like universal health care coverage, Senator Kennedy's great passion. We need another Kennedesque figure who would be able to be the voice of reason.

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die"