Goodbye and God Bless, Senator Kennedy

It is the end of an era. The magic of the Kennedys has been taken from us, in finality. There will never be others like them. Ted Kennedy was a man. Flawed, as any man is. What made him a great man was his belief in mankind, and his ability to live his values every single day of his life. He made great mistakes. He also made great retribution.

For me, he embodies the difference between “Me Government” versus “We Government.” He was a very rich, powerful man, yet he believed that if you gained something, it did not mean he was losing something. A rising tide lifts all boats. He knew that if you do better, he does better. He knew that if a citizen of this country is suffering, we all suffer. This is very far from the “I’ve got mine, screw you” mentality so prevalent these days. He didn’t need to denigrate you if your opinion was different, no name calling or backstabbing. He showed respect to people from all stations of life, every creed, color, lifestyle. He knew good-hearted people can disagree without being disagreeable.

He lived life about as fully as anyone can, and touched many people along the way. His absence is going to be felt in a very real way, and the world is a sadder place. Godspeed, Teddy.