Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy with their nine children in Bronxville, N.Y., 1938. From left are, seated: Eunice, Jean, Edward (on lap of his father), Patricia, and Kathleen. Standing: Rosemary, Robert, John, Mrs. Kennedy, and Joseph, Jr.Another Kennedy died. It seems like one of them has been dying my whole life. Only one of the 11 above, Jean is still alive. I guess that'd be true with most families from that era.
The Kennedys lived good lives. But you know, they gave a helluva lot back too. Some gave it all they had.
I have to laugh when radio and TV jocks and their chickenshit chickenhawk audience talk shit about families like the Kennedys. All four of those sons above served their country. Joe Jr. gave it everything he had. And of course, John and Robert took one for the team too.
Edward, 'Teddy', the youngest there, sitting on his father's lap didn't die 'for his country', but he sure gave a lot to it. He fought his entire 47 years in the Senate for people who had much less than he did. He didn't have to do that but he did.
But there was Chappaquiddick. Thirteen months after Robert's assassination Teddy got drunk, drove off a bridge and Mary Jo Kopechne drowned. That was real bad. I'd probably get drunk a lot too if my three older brothers had been killed or murdered. But you know, poor Mary Jo. Sometimes a real bad thing out-weighs a lot of good.
But I still have to laugh when I hear some of these hate-filled low-life, do-nothings, criticize a man like Ted Kennedy and members of his family. Not only have they never done anything for their country but their entire family-tree has never done anything for their country. They have been nothing but takers their whole lives.
But men like the Kennedys fought long and hard and died to protect these punks' right to say what they want to say. And who really cares?
Thanks Ted - thanks for all you did. Say hi to the family.
