Saturday, August 29, 2009

Ted

I was sitting in a cafe in Kinsale when I learned that Ted Kennedy had brain cancer. I didn't really understand how the Irish felt about the Kennedys until I saw an eight page story about Senator Kennedy and his diagnosis. Today, I can only imagine what the papers look like.

His was not a career I followed closely, and to be honest, when I hear his name I think "Chappaquiddick" but I guess if anyone worked to make up for a horrible mistake it was him. Listening to his grandkids speaking, it's clear they will follow in the family's political footsteps, but perhaps without his style. Few would have the balls to use their own funeral as a political gesture, and I think holding his funeral at a church that has been a home for every immigrant population is definitely a political gesture. A gesture that won't get him anything, but shows that he stood behind what he said.

He gave us a lot of bad punchlines, but he actually worked and asked other politicians some tough questions. Good work.

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