A Democrat World View

While watching the Ted Kennedy wake and funeral speeches the last two days I was struck once again by the fact that I will never understand the Republican Party world view. My soul just resonates with the Democratic Party, it always has and probably always will. I have tried over the years to be more objective in my views, but cannot. I only hope that I have reached across the aisle to my Republican friends like Ted did. I did not realize the true depth of the long legislative career of Senator Kennedy. Upon watching the media coverage of his life, I have been moved by the telling of his accomplishments over the past 30 years. Learning too about the medical traumas and adversities he and his family suffered. I was multitasking while watching television, like every teacher knows how to do, googling to learn more about the female siblings of Ted Kennedy I found their lives were not only ones of privilege but of dedicated public service as well to the poor, the disabled, the gay population, to health care and to the arts. I think the Kennedy family appeal has in part been to do with their mix of optimism and human failings and their ability to sometimes transcend these failings.

I remember, like everyone else, where I was when John and Bobby died. Bobby's death I took extremely hard coming shortly as it did after the murder of Dr. King. I was 17, a high school senior, idealistic and naive. I remember sitting in front of the television unable to stop crying. I think my sense of hope and idealism in the political process was shattered, although not completely. I had hoped to join the Peace Corp after graduating from college but when a hurricane hit Honduras where Jerry and I were assigned to go and teach, we were forced to give up that dream. I spent my career in some of the more challenging public schools in Minneapolis and always felt it a gift that I could be paid to do a job I really loved and felt was worthwhile. Not everyone is so blessed in life.

Ted Kennedy had the same sort of brain cancer my mother suffered from. She lasted only three months, he 14. The kind of medical treatment he received was in it's early developmental stages when my mom struggled against the disease. I remember how devastated she was after she was told first she could have this experimental treatment and then a week later was told she was not eligible. We were never sure exactly what happened. I suppose some of my emotion about health care policy goes back to this personal experience. I wanted her to have the hope of a little more time she so desperately wanted that this treatment might have offered. I also was grateful for the good care she did have. I remember wanting to throw my arms around her surgeon when she told us they were able to take out some of the tumor which gave her a few more weeks of life. Good care, a wish everyone should be able to realize without the fear of financial ruin.

As Kennedy has said....the hope rises again and the dream lives on. Maybe our country will now rise to the challenge of giving all our citizens what some of us have not had to worry about: affordable good health care.

A little postscript: Alexis has just received word that she has completed all her credits to graduate from Hunter College in Manhattan. Her major: political science! Next goal: grad school in social work. Her political world view? A proud mom indeed!!!!