GOOD-BYE, "GRAN FROMAGE"

The week could not end without a few words - maybe more than a few - about Teddy Kennedy. LOST has been awash in emotion since the expected announcement that the lion has roared for the last time; it was imminent, it seemed, when he was unable to attend the rites for his sister Eunice Shriver - no way the man misses that unless he was physically unable to do so. So many others have already weighed in, some far more eloquently than LOST could, and some with the gritted teeth that could only be sported by the likes of George Will - who couldn't say one nice thing without tossing out at least one accompanying slam or two. Enough about the negative, though. Teddy was a man who lived his life in service to those who would never have it as good as he did. Like many affluent people, he could have turned his back, or stayed within his ornate circle, and never ventured beyond the walls of the family compound. He could have elected for this in 1963, or in 1968, or in the 1980s after losing a presidential bid, and ending his first marriage, and no one would have questioned at all. He fell down publicly and repeatedly. But he got back up, each time, dusted himself off and kept moving forward, advocating for those who had no influence, limited means, and scant opportunity.

Listing his legislative accomplishments would take hours; but courtesy of "the Rude Pundit" here's a few highlights worth noting:

Do you like your state and not the federal government controlling the curriculum of your kids' schools? Thank Ted Kennedy.

Do you like being able to vote starting at age 18? Thank Ted Kennedy.

Do you think low-income people should get help with heating their homes in the winter? Thank the man.

Do you think the federal government should fund cancer research? Yep.

Do you believe that Meals on Wheels is a good thing? Ditto.

Does your daughter (or you, if you're female) like playing soccer or basketball or softball at school? That'd be because of Ted Kennedy.

Do you think that disabled people should be able to go to school? Have access to buildings? Not be discriminated against for housing and loads of other things? Kennedy, big time.

You like your cheap airfares? You know the answer.

You think people on welfare oughta get jobs? So did Kennedy.

You think mental institutions should treat people humanely? Yeah, so did your new friend, Ted Kennedy.

You believe that the Defense Department should provide child care for the kids of soldiers? Kennedy did.

You think a woman shouldn't lose her job if she gets pregnant? You think 100,000 more cops on the street's a good idea? You think poor kids should have health care? You think soldiers in Iraq should have the proper armor? Just tick those things off the list. Some of them would have been accomplished without him; many would not have been.


Even in this flaming red pustle in the midst of a blue state - one which burns at any mention of "illegal immigration" and yearns to do the dance of the teabag, there were islands of sane, rational remembrances of the man and his accomplishments. Several local businesses, and a couple of neighbors who have full sized flagpoles on their property flew their flags at half mast for Senator Ted. After hearing from his sons at yesterday's Mass - each one sounding so much like his father, and painting a portrait that the amateur artist himself would be proud to claim as as own, and then hearing all those grandchildren pray the intercessions - for the causes which he fought for and believed in, LOST once again felt that there was a place within the Catholic faith for progressive thought and action. God Bless you Teddy. Say hello to Fran, Kareen, Frank, and LOST's dad for us all.