R.I.P. Ted Kennedy: Justice, Fairness & Opportunity

categories: Activism, Government, Health & Healthcare

Published August 26, 2009 @ 06:50PM PT

Ted Kennedy at ELAC

Those are the values by which he fought his whole, privileged life. It was his mandate, in a wealthy, famous family, to fight for those with less, on behalf of those with less. And throughout his professional life, Senator Ted Kennedy, D-MA for 47 years, did exactly that. At this late hour of the day, I can't possibly add any new insight to the eulogies and obits and memoriams that are circulating. But I do remember campaigning for Hillary Clinton in San Antonio, and being struck by the # of people who asked me why I was supporting Clinton if Kennedy had endorsed Obama. I was surprised by how popular and revered he was beyond the borders of Massachusetts. I really never realized how far his legacy reached.

Change.org bloggers have paid tribute to the "liberal lion" of the Senate throughout the day. Check out how Kennedy backed our fights for social justice - to stop genocide and homelessness and poverty; to promote human rights, environmental sustainability (Cape Wind notwithstanding, ahem), LGBT equality, and women's rights (ok, in his personal life he was working on this); to strengthen global health and, of course, health care.

Please, in memoriam, help us finish Sen. Kennedy's job to bring universal health care to all Americans.

(Photo of Ted Kennedy at ELAC by xavierla)

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Here are 3 more tributes to Sen. Kennedy at Change.org:

Animal Rights: http://animalrights.change.org/blog/view/honoring_ted_kennedy

Humanitarian Relief: http://humanitarianrelief.change.org/blog/view/ted_kennedy_who_saw_wrong_and_tried_to_right_it

Immigration: http://immigration.change.org/blog/view/ted_kennedy_champion_of_immigrant_rights

Posted by Leigh Graham on 08/27/2009 @ 07:12AM PT
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We lost a great Senator. Senator Kennedy was the best champion for the rights of people who had little in this world. He tried and did make many lives better. I wish he had lived to see his dream of Health Care for All come to fruition. He really deserved to see that, if only there hadn't been all the stalling stunts in the Senate.

Posted by Barbara Kantola on 08/28/2009 @ 08:37AM PT
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It is our job to pick up where Sen. Kennedy leaves off. Each person who cares about human justice needs to stand up and fight for the America dream.

It took us 40 odd year to pick up the mantra from MLK jr. No more. The day after any leaders death at least 25 of us, will take up the cause with new vigor.   There are No leaders larger than life.

For me, the dream is ending this medieval attitude toward the poor. They are not worthless, and the jobs they do are important. Where would go to eat out if it were not for cooks and even burger flippers.

Have you noticed the fast food ranks? They are not just teenagers, anymore. Many burger flippers workers are around 25 or older.

In the 1970's New York City sawthe that the trash people job was important. Can you see a CEO emptying their own waste bin, and dusting their own office?   There is not worthless Job.

70% of all American worker are paid less then the price of their fair-market rent. We need a law which promotes a livable wage for all. The best way to pay respect to our fallen Ed. Kennedy, is to fight harder for a livable wage.

Yes health Care, with public option is one component of ending 100% of poverty. There are many Americans on that band wagon. We need a few more on the wage and homeless, hunger, anti- violence, speak out with reality, livable wage band-wagon. It time to pay every worker the cost of their bills. Its not 1100AD but 2010. Human kindness must advance.

While we will miss Senator Kennedy. It is time for Us the poor to speak out join PPEHRC or Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign www.PPEHRC.org. Or in Maine -join, Maine Poor People's Human Rights Coalition. check us out at face-book.

I am wondering, How many Change members are from Maine?



Posted by jan Lightfootlane on 08/29/2009 @ 07:55AM PT
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Author

Leigh is a PhD candidate in urban planning at MIT, and a consultant on U.S. Gulf Coast recovery. She sits on the Board of the Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation in Boston, and has worked with non-profits, foundations and local governments on policies and programs aimed at reducing urban poverty and inequality.