Posted by
Brian Peters on Sunday, August 30, 2009 4:24:25 PM
Three days have passed, the 'traditional' mourning period. At work, I followed the President's order this past week and we flew our Nation's flag at half mast, which was only correct to do to respect a larger than life figure in Senator Ted Kennedy. I honestly feel that way.
Yesterday since the majority of the media gave us wall to wall coverage of the entire funeral, I glanced upon it from time to time to see and hear what was going on.
In my lifetime, when I hear the name Kennedy, what immediately comes to mind is a political family. When I hear talk of JFK, myself, I think of PT109 and JFK's most respectable tour in the U.S. Navy during World War Two. I think of his most famous saying..
- And
so, my fellow americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask
what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask
not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the
freedom of man.
- John F. Kennedy, Inaugural address, January 20, 1961
Mostly I recall the first part of that quote, as do we all in some fashion or form.
I also sadly, when I hear of JFK, I think of his assassination and the continuing question of who and why.
When Ted Kennedy began taking the scene, I really, being a Midwest lad, had no real connection to him, who he was, what he did. As I grew older, his name became synonymous with Chappaquiddick in my mind. Then as I saw him on TV via the main stream media...before cable TV and the 'shivers running down our legs MSNBC', I thought, he sure drinks a lot and why does Massachusetts keep re-electing him if he has such a questionable past?
When he passed, I genuinely felt bad for his immediate family, and thought best to just hold my tongue and keyboard until time has passed. So I flicked on the TV yesterday and saw family doing their eulogies, the first one I caught was some little boy, around 8 years old or so, saying that his 'Grandfather wanted healthcare for all..' What did I just hear from such a little boy? Oh no....no....they didn't...but they did....the Democrat political machine stuck words into a little boys mouth and had him say it World wide. Words a normal little boy would not say. You, who did that to that little boy....are lower than low life scum. I watched a few more then the Priest caught them all off and started their religious ceremony. I watched the Presidents in the crowd for a bit, then had to get back to work.
Later yesterday, at home, I turned on Fox News, they were covering the long procession to Arlington ( I did not know Ted was in the Army...huu-ah Ted), then I was watching the Honor Guard at the site, and the Priest gave some last words
This is the kicker: Kicker parts in bold and underlined.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/08/priest_makes_ke.html?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed3
At the graveside service at Arlington National Cemetery for Senator
Edward M. Kennedy, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of
Washington, D.C. and a family friend, read portions of the letter that
President Obama delivered on Kennedy's behalf to the pope last month
and portions of the pope's reply.
Kennedy's letter:
"Most Holy Father, I asked President Obama to personally hand
deliver this letter to you. As a man of deep faith himself, he
understands how important my Roman Catholic faith is to me, and I am
deeply grateful to him.
"I hope this letter finds you in good health. I pray that you have
all of God’s blessings as you lead our Church and inspire our world
during these challenging times.
"I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my
own health declines. I was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year
ago, and, although I continue treatment, the disease is taking its toll
on me. I am 77 years old and preparing for the next passage of life.
"I have been blessed to be a part of a wonderful family, and both of
my parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the
center of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained, nurtured and
provided solace to me in the darkest hours. I know that I have been an
imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith, I have tried to
right my path.
"I want you to know, Your Holiness, that in my nearly 50 years of
elective office, I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor
and open doors of economic opportunity. I’ve worked to welcome the
immigrant, fight discrimination and expand access to health care and
education. I have opposed the death penalty and fought to end war.
Those are the issues that have motivated me and been the focus of my
work as a United States Senator.
"I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed
to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in
my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in
a conscience protection for Catholics in the health care field and will
continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work
to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health
care for everyone.
"I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness, and
though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed
to believe and respect the fundamental teachings. I continue to pray
for God’s blessings on you and our Church and would be most thankful
for your prayers for me."
Pope Benedict XVI's reply, via a Vatican official:
"The Holy Father has read the letter which you entrusted to
President Barack Obama, who kindly presented it to him during their
recent meeting. He was saddened to know of your illness, and has asked
me to assure you of his concern and his spiritual closeness. He is
particularly grateful for your promise of prayers for him and for the
needs of the universal Church.
"His Holiness prays that in the days ahead you may be sustained in
faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to
the will of God our merciful Father. He invokes upon you the
consolation and peace promised by the Risen Savior to all who share in
His sufferings and trust in His promise of eternal life.
"Commending you and the members of your family to the loving
intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father cordially
imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort and
strength in the Lord."
So, a dying man, who has close access to the Pope of all people, in his final letter, addresses 'Health Care' THREE TIMES!!?? What part of the Democrat political machine came up with that letter? President Obama gave that letter to the Pope on/about Friday, July 10th, 2009, the Health Care bill was brought forth on July 14th, 2009.....Senator Kennedy is not a 'sponsor' of that Bill. Makes one scratch your head and go hmmm?
Today was a Gun & Knife show at the local Fairgrounds. After watching Glenn Beck all week, I'm totally freaked out and bought a truckload of military arms and supplies, so were the thousands of Caucasian males that were backing their pick ups to the door to load up the bed of their trucks. Okay, from 'After to trucks' is a lie. Glenn did not freak me out, he made sense (though on the Huffington Post he's numero uno in side bar discussions...hmm....guess he struck a nerve....or whatever socialist progressives possess.) I did not buy a thing, but going in, I did hold the door and let a younger African American man go in before me. There was about a 100 people milling about, I saw 3 purchases while there. I heard some of the gun dealers talking not many people buying....due to the economy. Just for arguments sake, the racial make up was about 60% (we are at fault for everyone's ills Caucasians), the rest of the 40% was a fine cross example of Americana, and 80/20 percent men to women ratio.