The passing of the patriarch of an American family

The death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) captured the attention and imagination of cable TV and other national media in an almost unexpected way, and his memorial service, funeral and burial were televised in their entirety. Not that he wasn’t a towering figure in American politics and life. He surely was, flaws and strengths well known, angling to the forefront of the American consciousness from the time of his election to the Senate in 1962. The nation and the world watched as he and his family dealt with the assassinations of his two brothers, while Americans were struggling to deal with those losses themselves. And, of course, the accident which changed his life ever after, in which Kennedy was the driver, resulted in the tragic death of a loyal political aid to Robert Kennedy, Mary Jo Kopechne, off Chappaquiddick Island in 1969.

Tragedy also dogged the Kennedy family into the next generation, as we all know. John F. Kennedy Jr. died in a plane crash, in which he was the pilot, along with his wife and sister-in-law, 10 years ago. The tragedies of the Kennedy family have been very public ones, and funerals following have been shared openly by the family so the public could feel a part of their closure.

So, really, it was no surprise Ted Kennedy’s funeral was so public. He had time to think about the way in which he would leave this life, and must have decided himself that after presiding over so many public funerals, and having lived such a public life, he and his family would share their farewell to him with the world. Since his death was more in the natural flow of things, Ted Kennedy having lived a long and accomplished life, it could be more of a celebration of him as a person and the positive effects he had on his family and the nation.

There is a fascination that Americans have with those few nationally powerful families that have spanned generations in the public eye, and often in public service. The Kennedys are perhaps the most riveting among them, but there are also the Buckleys of Sharon (and the world), and the Bush family, who all, whether one agrees or disagrees with their opinions and partisan activities, have had lasting influence on the path the country has taken over the past 50 or so years.

With the passing of Ted Kennedy, it is truly the end of an era, and on to the next generation, with new families and new holds on power and calls to public service.

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With the voluminous discussion of health-care reform in the pages of this newspaper over the past few weeks, it is only fitting to acknowledge Kennedy’s dedication over years to finding a way to bring health-care to all Americans. Now is the time to begin reform, but with the goal of working toward true universal health care for the people of the United States. The reforms proposed now are not yet there. But why should Americans have to wait until they’re 65 years old to be able to have affordable, accessible health care? Surely if Taiwan was able to find a way to accomplish health-care for all in their nation, the United States should be able to figure it out. Journalist T.R. Reid’s documentary for “Frontline,†the PBS series, examined the health-care systems of five capitalist democracies which all provide complete and high quality health care. It’s enlightening and of interest to anyone thinking about the next step for American health care. To see it, go to pbs.org, and click on frontline/sickaroundtheworld.