Faster than you can say "Chappaquiddick," President Obama has called the newly dead Edward M. Kennedy "the greatest United States Senator of our time.” I stood silent during the absurd, post-mortem lionization of Michael Jackson and fond memories of fluffed hair queen Farrah Fawcett. But I won't stand for the second Kennedy apotheosis in a month -- this one completely undeserved.
I am not a Kennedy hater and I agree with most of the positions adopted by the dead senator. I revered Jack and Bobby. But Teddy, whose life amply demonstrates he should have been nicknamed Fast Eddie, was unquestionably the "bad seed."
Unlike Eunice Kennedy Shriver, kindly rich lady that she was, her brother Edward disappointed only those who expected him to deliver at least as much as he received. After all, Ted Kennedy was born with a silver spoon and delivered a life of dishonest posturing. Then again, that silver spoon had been forged from the Wall Street and Prohibition Era shenanigans of his none-too-saintly father.
The storied double dealing of patriarch Joe Kennedy wasn't Ted Kennedy's fault. Not like his cheating on a Spanish exam at Harvard. Not like Chappaquiddick.
The man now being eulogized as a great liberal allowed the minimum wage to sink below the poverty line. He failed to join forces with Jimmy Carter to prevent the election of Ronald Reagan and to help pass health reform in the 1990s.
Kennedy claimed to be a Catholic, yet after driving a good woman to drink and divorce, he emulated the darkest side of Camelot, finally squiring another divorced Catholic.
Is there anything for which Edward M. Kennedy said he stood that he didn't betray? Is there anything he actually achieved?
5 comments:
Yes, I thought it was strange, this morning, seeing all the praise. I thought it must have been someone else with the Chappaquiddick thing (since I wasn't sure if I had the right Kennedy). Still we had all this, for the first time really, when Princess Diana died. Within the day she went from some sort of harlot to the Perfect Princess, even for people around me. I watched it all unfold with utter amazement.
Sorry to say this, Cecilieaux, but the media (both television and newspapers) started it and the politicians, in their eagerness to appear 'at one with the people' just followed on.
Dreadful.
"de mortuis nil nisi bonum dicendum est"
There must have been a reason that this has been handed down thru so many generations.
I will risk commenting. It is difficult from the above to understand exactly what you are complaining about. Do you truly believe that one or two mistakes condemns him forever? After all, we all make mistakes, don't we?
Since TK was behind much of the legislation that benefitted needy populations in our country, I think he deserves credit for his life's work. he was dedicated to public service and it is not his fault that Reagan, Bush and Bush got elected and the Senate was dominated by Republicans.
Anonymous, lots of cliches and superstitions have been passed down over the years. That doesn't make them true. Unless you feel it's always wrong to speak ill of anyone, there's no reason to spare the dead; you needn't fear they'll come around and haunt you.
Oh well, I liked the man he was. & I guess I relate to the dark side of him and of his family.
What gets me are the foul epitaphs by familiar folks (aka friends (not you!) (directed to Michael and Teddy & every other celeb who pass onward & probably upward) who don't have squeeky clean slates, either.
[& since I am a creedal catholic & reference is made to Teddy's "claim" I have no problem with "forgiveness of sins".
Anne
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