RIP, EMK

Been traveling, been in court, been busy.


Teddy Kennedy: Even during my liberal past, I never really, really got all excited about Ted Kennedy. I have long believed that he, and the others of his clan, were and are people of privilege who have tended to abuse their privileges. Having said this, and without in any way denying his big time major league character flaws, there are things that must be said in Edward Moore Kennedy's favor.

Specifically, even though he was the son of a virulent anti-semite, Ted Kennedy exhibited kindness and compassion towards Jews (and, for that matter, Israel) during his lifetime. He did use his privilege to save the life of at least one person, a refusnik from the former Soviet Union, who today is a productive and contributing American. And Ted Kennedy was pro-Israel because he understood Arab terrorism (having lost a brother to the bullet of an Arab terrorist).

For this, I am grateful to Ted Kennedy, and hope that these matters are taken into account by the One who ultimately judges him.

Again, this is my personal viewpoint. I do not and cannot in any way purport to speak for the late Mary Jo Kopechne or her family.

Limits on Protekzia for the Kennedys

Without in any way negating my significant political differences with Sen. Ted Kennedy, I wish him and his family the best of luck in what is, in all likelihood, the beginning of a prolonged and painful struggle with his disease. I take no glee whatsoever in learning of his medical condition. All indications are that he and his family will confront his condition with dignity.

My main gripe about the Kennedy family is that they, too often, get away with infractions which would cause significant legal problems almost for anyone else. But while they can smugly disobey many laws with impunity, the Senator's almost certain struggle will demonstrate, once again, that even Kennedy family members cannot violate the laws of physics, chemistry or biology.

The laws which Teddy got away with violating at Chappaquidick, and which William Kennedy Smith got away with violating in Palm Beach, and which Patrick Kennedy got away with violating while driving drunk one night in Washington -- these are all laws legislated by human beings. But the laws of nature relating to the acceleration of projectiles, the buoyancy of automobiles, aerodynamics, and the toxicity of various chemical compounds are G-d's laws. Not even the Kennedys can get away with violating these!

That being said, my hopes and prayers are with the Senator and his family during these difficult times.