Look Ma, No Hands!

Sunny w/ Sand - Hi 107 Lo 84 for Baghdad, Iraq
Sunny w/ Sand - Hi 100 Lo 75 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Sunny - Hi 71 Lo 52 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: American Ride, Toby Keith



Toby Keith's newest. It's fun.

Ramble:

Senator Ted Kennedy died Tuesday night after a year long battle with brain cancer. I am saddened for his family. I watched the funeral yesterday and it was quite apparent that he was loved very much as a father, husband, grandfather, uncle and friend. How would you like to be part of that dynasty? Regardless of how you feel about them politically--- this is one strong clan. Right or wrong, when one of their own is in trouble the wagons are circled immediately. Ted Kennedy was the patriarch of that family. He was not only father to his own children, but a surrogate father to the children of his two murdered brothers. I can not imagine that kind of pain and sorrow and to endure it while the public watched. Ted Kennedy could have turned his back on his family, but as a person, as a living breathing soul he was obligated to care for his brothers children. I have always admired the pictures and old footage of the Kennedy's at funerals. They don't cry. Sadness and grief is done in private.

One can only speculate why Senator Kennedy pursued such legislation through out his nearly 50 years in office. I am sure it was out of passion and personal experience, possibly guilt and a search for redemption. He was hostile, malicious and in my opinion, liable during the Robert Bork hearings. His adversaries liked him and loved to spar with him. Only he and his Maker knew his heart. As a man, Ted Kennedy was funny, loved a good show tune, loved a good cocktail and enjoyed beautiful women. He was persistent and pragmatic. As a young man, he was caught cheating at Harvard. His penance was 16 months in the Army. Then 1 year after his brother Bobby was murdered, Ted Kennedy left a woman to die. Maybe he spent the rest of his life trying to redeem himself for that act or non-act... I don't know.

Politically, everything Senator Kennedy achieved was based on good intentions. No one should suffer, no one should go hungry, everyone in this country has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It says "the pursuit", it does not say life, liberty and happiness.... it says the pursuit of happiness. Each one of us as individuals must make that determination as to what makes us happy. Then it is up to each one of us to work toward that goal and strive for our potential. It is my contention that our federal government is there to provide for our basic needs--- strong military, roads, that's about it. Everything else should be governed by the individual states. That is what our Constitution provides.

HOWEVER, it is our MORAL obligation to care for the poor, the sick, the less fortunate. Our government was never intended to be our Mama and Papa. We as human beings, as individuals, as people, as children of God are obligated to care for one another. Love and care can not be legislated by Congress... it can not be sent down as a Judicial decision or an Executive order.

Senator Kennedy wrote a letter to Pope Benedict. He probably asked for a blessing or forgiveness. In response, "One veteran official at the Vatican, of U.S. nationality, expressed the view of many conservatives about the Kennedy clan's rapport with the Catholic Church: "Why would he even write a letter to the Pope? The Kennedy's have always been defiantly in opposition to the Roman Catholic magisterium." (Magisterium is the formal term for the authority of Church teaching.)"

Time Magazine

I go back to the vision I have of the Kennedy family... strong tightly knit family that takes care of their own. That is the micro vision to the macro vision of what this country should be again.

I was not a fan... never was. His body of work shows that he was concerned about the human spirit. His intentions were admirable yet misguided. The dichotomy was the the other half of the man. He did some horrible unimaginable things and his opposition to fundamental Church teachings make for a mixed bag...

A person is to be judged by the totality of his actions. Senator Kennedy will be judged by his Maker. Time will tell how he is portrayed in history.

Have a great week everyone!