We will miss you Teddy!

John, Bobby, and Teddy Kennedy

As everyone knows by now, we lost another great American politian today. Not only was Teddy Kennedy a great Senator (serving Massachusetts since 1962), he was also a strong advocate for health care reform. Now as we mourn his death, we also have to question if his death will affect progress toward universal health care.

Being the second Kennedy to pass away recently (his sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away Aug. 11), it makes us think back to all the memories we have about the Kennedy family. As a well off and politically blessed family, the Kennedy family is THE most influential family our political system and our country have ever seen. Teddy’s father Joseph started the family political career in 1938 when he was a US Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Following in Joseph’s footsteps were Teddy’s brothers John and Bobby, both famous for their national politics; there was also Joseph Jr. who died at war during World War II. Then there were the very active sisters; Eunice, who started and founded the Special Olympics in honor of her sister Rosemary and Jean who was a US Ambassador to Ireland. Many of the Kennedys also had their hand in a variety of humanitarian work around the world. Teddy was the last of the living Kennedy siblings. There are many other Kennedys in the family, but none as infamous as the Kennedy siblings.

Even though Teddy was a dynamic part of the health care reform movement, there is still much hope for the future. After Teddy’s hard work, some people will be inspired to step up to the plate to take over his leadership in the reform. The health care debate will continue and hopefully we will be making progress in the near future. Teddy and the rest of the Kennedy legacy will never die, it will only make us more driven to do what we think is right.

Kennedy quotes:

“The Constitution does not just protect those whose views we share; it also protects those with whose views we disagree.”
-Teddy Kennedy

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”
-John Kennedy

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”
-Bobby Kennedy

“The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.”
-Teddy Kennedy

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”
-Bobby Kennedy

“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 Kennedy

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