Farewell, Uncle Teddy

America lost a great friend this week with the death of Senator Edward Kennedy. Teddy was loved by those on the left, and respected by his colleagues on the right. While some controversy surrounded him for the last few decades, albeit mostly manufactured, Teddy dedicated his life to serving those who were born into less fortune than he. It would be difficult to find a more caring, sincere, and compassionate person, elected or otherwise, than Senator Kennedy

It is because of this that I was shocked by the right wing response to the loss of such a great man. I listened in horror this morning as a colleague laughed and bragged about a neighbor of his who launched fireworks in celebration of Teddy’s death. Rush Limbaugh is warning his listeners that the left will exploit the situation to push through health care reform. Joe Scarborough took the opportunity to trash Kennedy’s record, personal and political, all the while pretending to be objective, in the condescending manner only Joe could pull off.

The right wing has shown their true colors more and more every day since then Senator Obama’s nomination for president, and their behavior surrounding Teddy’s passing demonstrates the vast differences between the two sides ideologically as well as politically. While I believe that President Reagan did more to hurt our country than any president in its 233 year history, we on the left did not take his passing to be an appropriate time to voice these opinions, and there were certainly no fireworks being launched from my yard. The left sat mostly silent as the republican controlled senate and house discussed whether Reagan’s head should be added to US currency or Mount Rushmore.

The best tribute we could pay now is to finally pass the health care reform that Teddy has been fighting for for decades. For a century now, every time the left has proposed providing health care to all citizens, the right has blocked every move. It is no source of embarrassment to the republicans that we are the only industrialized nation for over 90 years now that does not afford all citizens that security.

I have never believed in using tragic events for political gain, but it is also my belief that that vast majority of congress, be they republican or democratic, know in their hearts that the right to affordable health care should transcend economic stature and be provided to all citizens of our country. If Teddy’s passing helps those senators and congressmen realize that people are more important than profit, and convinces them to vote for strong health care reform, then there could be no greater tribute to one of America’s greatest patriots.
-Nick Star