Edward M. Kennedy,the Silenced, Irish, Lion

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“The last shall be first and the first shall be last”, were the words engraved on the cigarette case given to Teddy by his brother, on the future President’s Wedding Day to Jackie.

Who would have been able to foresee that those words would  developed into an ultimate truth. Teddy did become first of the brothers after their passing.  The death of Joe, during the war, the horrifying assassination of Jack in 1963, and frightfully again, the assassination of Bobby in 1968, Teddy became the first, as well as the last.

Ted was the first to consider the elderly. The First to consider the Health Care of children. The First to demonstrate concern about children’s education. The First to address minimum wage. The first to consider the Immigrants plight. First to voice the Health Care needs of all of us. We, the American Public.

Love was the message Teddy offered the Country, in step with Jack and Bobby’s plea to us. His troubled younger years, were absolved by us during his later years.  He was, as they were, a champion for the working class, male, female, white, black, native American, or Hispanic. A friend of the down trodden, we could depend on the candid, outspoken, creative support of Teddy.

We have lost the voices of the Kennedy brothers, with Ted’s passing.  Has the torch been passed to Our President? President Barack H. Obama! Perhaps it has.

The lion has been silenced.  He, who had the ability to bring together both sides of an issue and establish common ground from each. He left his opponents with their dignity, by finding  common thoughts and feelings regarding an issue.

After 45 years, the Lion has been silenced.  The lion is dead.  Long live the Lion.

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He did become first, just as Jack predicted, more than 50 years ago.