On the Passing of Edward Kennedy: Political Celebrity

[RonPrice]

HEROIC

When that last remnant of the Baha’i heroic age (1844-1921) died on 15 July 1932, Ted Kennedy, a man who would become what might very well be called the last remnant of a heroic family was five months old. (1)

(1) Fatimih Sultan was entitled "Varaqiy-i-'Ulyá" or "Greatest Holy Leaf". She was the only daughter of the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá'í Faith. Also known as Bahiyyih Khanum, she died on 15 July 1932 and Ted Kennedy was born on 22 February 1932. He died yesterday. This prose-poem will serve for me as a quasi-eulogy. I hope this short piece of writing is enjoyed by a few at this internet site.-Ron Price, George Town, Tasmania

You were in office, Ted, from

the age of thirty when I was just

beginning my own office as that

pioneer-traveller for that young

Canadian Bahá'í community....(1)

You became the third longest

serving senator and I became

the longest serving international

pioneer in Canada. But, Ted, it is

presumptuous to compare my life

to yours, but I’m going to do it....

You had back pain all your years

after ’64 and I had to deal with

bipolar disorder after ’63. You

ran off a bridge in ’69 and I ran

off the rails in ’68 due to...BPD.

Some never forgave you, Ted

and some never understood me.

You had a long history of public

service stretching until your very

death, just yesterday........Energy,

what energy you had! You’ve got

33 pages now at Wikipedia, Ted,

one of the modern literary monu-

ments and what a list of stuff, Ted!

You were the youngest of nine

children and I was just an only

child. All those schools, Ted...

how did you survive it all? It was

a miracle that you got through

your education. I could go on

and on with this comparison, this

contrast. I’m really not in your...

league, not any where near you.

Here I am at 65—had enough of

meetings, conversations, but still

have little forays into public space.

“Congratulations,” Ted, “goodonyer,”

as they say Downunder. May you live

in peace in that Land of Light, that un-

discovered country, that hole as some

call the place where those go who do

not speak any more. You did enough

talking for a dozen men in that dynasty

of Kennedys who are gone from us now.

(1) Ted Kennedy was in office since November 1962 and I was a pioneer from September 1962.

Ron Price

26 August 2009

[Nomad]

Ted Kennedy was a flawed human being as are we all. That said, if redemption for our shortcomings can be overcome by good deeds done then I believe Mr. Kennedy succeeded through tenacity in his over abundance of good work done for the people he served.

[RonPrice]

Good point, Nomad....I also like that quote you include from Mark Twain.