<p>The Kennedy Family has made the same choice many times–defend the family at all costs–ALL COSTS. So while I don’t wish this on him one bit I think what goes around comes around.</p>
<p>Barrons:</p>
<p>They’ll probably bring up “Patches” from his House seat in Rhode Island to run for the Kennedy Senate seat in Massachusetts…as if 46 years of drunk Kennedy’s in the Senate isn’t enough.</p>
<p>This could work out OK though. I might get a chance to vote against a Kennedy and a Kerry in the same calendar year. Too bad we can’t go for the tri-fecta with a recall of Deval Patrick.</p>
<p>We must be related, NEM. My fa in law had virtually no health problems, except for a benign familial tremor, and was on no medications until his fall. He resisted taking even pain meds, necessary after they had to put a chest tube in. He was as clear as a bell cognitively up until the day he died. He couldnt hear worth a hoot, but he wa sharp as a tack at 99. Still liked to discuss politics and the stock market with my h.</p>
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<p>Locally in the Buffalo area, we just got through court hearings regarding jurisdiction for penalty re: an anti-abortionist sniper who murdered Dr. Bernard Slepian. That man lay in wait in the doctor’s backyard with a rifle, took aim and murdered Dr. Slepian. He went down in the presence of his wife and children.</p>
<p>That man will hopefully serve the rest of his life in prison, although he views himself as a hero. Someday, when I read the sniper’s obituary, I don’t think I would say anything as harsh and humanly heartless as I’ve seen some add to this thread against Senator Kennedy. </p>
<p>There’s a place for political discussion and a place for human compassion. Two different places.</p>
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<p>Maybe, but… </p>
<p>It is ironic. What could have been a long, public farewell is of necessity entwined with the facts that his irresponsible actions caused the early death of an young woman and that he acted with remarkable dishonor in those circumstances. This is his inconvenient truth.</p>
<p>I guess supporting or defending one’s family is a bad thing… Simply amazing.</p>
<p>“I think that in order to be full human beings, we need to have compassion for everyone”</p>
<p>Umm, well, I disagree and I can assure you that I am a full human being. Feel free to define humanity as you choose, and I will do the same.</p>
<p>p3t-
Well said. This thread should have been entitled “supportive words for Kennedy” or something similar. Then all those who want to spit on him and his family could do it elsewhere.</p>
<p>It is a bad thing when you lie and use political connections to avoid dealing with the truth. The Kennedy and Gotti families have more in common than they should.</p>
<p>I cannot help but lose almost all respect for anyone who takes the opportunity of someone being diagnosed with cancer to rail at them for their past mistakes (however egregious). Shame on the lot of you. (And no, I don’t like the man either - but I don’t act victoriously misanthropic at times like this either.)</p>
<p>lts: From what I’ve heard, gliomas (and if it’s malignant, it’s probably stage 4 glioblastoma multiforme) is basically incurable… which may account for some of the funereal atmosphere.</p>
<p>Humanity includes taking care of the fatherless children of his brothers Jack and Robert, totalling more than 10. Following the assasination of Robert, his many children all but ran wild around Ethel. Without their uncle, they’d have been a real mess forever. He was the sole surviving son of 4 boys, having lost his oldest brother in WWII and two other elders to assasination. He saw his son through cancer and amputation. It’s been a life few would trade to be in his shoes. </p>
<p>If not for Chappaquidik, he’d probably have become a two-term President long ago. Instead he took the next best job and did it brilliantly for a lifetime. He was re-elected numerous times in his home state. Compared to what “might have been” and what “was” for him, I long ago understood that his life was diminished, not compared to mine but compared to his own.</p>
<p>All the rest isn’t mine to judge, except to wish him a mighty battle to survive and comfort, strength for his family and constituents. </p>
<p>We should hire some of you posters to walk around spitting into the cells of men in prison. That would really help things along.</p>
<p>“Humanity includes taking care of the fatherless children of his brothers Jack and Robert, totalling more than 10.”</p>
<p>It was my humanity at issue, not his. And I am the one who admired Senator Kennedy’s stepping in for his brothers’ children.</p>
<p>1of42, you are correct, it is incurable, however, based on what I have read, it can be treated into a chronic disease position. I forget the gentleman’s name who is a professor at UCSD who had a glioma - he wrote a book (his prognosis was months and he is still alive and teaching today; it’s now been 12 + years), Epistrohpy posted it in the LTS thread over the summer, and I bought the book because it gets into some very interesting issues that relate to ALL cancers - in any event, Kennedy is almost certainly going to have many, many treatment options and very supportive resources even though the aggregate prognosis for this is very poor, and I wish the media would reflect this - it would go a long way to giving others hope, as well as showcase our scientific achievements. A few minutes ago one newscaster on CNN finally did speak up and say that “we” need to be speaking in positive tones, given the new treatments, the advancement of science, and Kennedy’s fighting spirit.</p>
<p>As to the negative political comments, I seriously doubt that there is anyone here who hasn’t done something wrong or even several things wrong at some point in their lives. And I wasn’t at Chappaquiddick and probably neither was anyone else here, and it doesn’t matter - that was 40 something years ago. I will continue to pray for him, and for his family.</p>
<p>Wow. This is one of the most surprising threads I’ve read on CC (in terms of the reaction, not the subject).</p>
<p>When I heard that the Senator had a seizure, I started hoping it wasn’t a brain tumor. It’s difficult to diagnose types of brain tumors, so I’m holding out hope that he’ll be able to live well with whatever particular tumor it is. </p>
<p>I wish him and his family courage and peace during this difficult period.</p>
<p>See, here’s the personal thing. I only pray for someone or something after serious consideration and analysis. Offering a prayer is a very profound thing to me and I can say that I’ve only done so maybe a dozen times in my life and often in conjunction with taking action. I happen to work near St. Patrick’s Cathedral and in years past for very specific circumstances, Ive gone there to pray for and light a candle for someone or something. I don’t think Senator Kennedy needs my prayers. You can bash me as you’d like, but I don’t now and never will think him a good man for a variety of reasons. And I’m sure he’s fine with that.</p>
<p>“If not for Chappaquidik”= Other than that, how did you enjoy the show Mrs Lincoln?</p>
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What about wishing someone well, which you also said you wouldn’t do? Well-wishes seem pretty benign to me.</p>
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<p>So if that’s your philosophy in life, how do you explain innocent children who suffer for many months or years before they die?</p>
<p>Corranged - a seizure is how they found my dad’s cancer. Since he’d had a history of contained malignant melanoma, they initially thought it had come back, but upon further diagnostics tests, they discovered it was lung cancer that had spread to his brain, causing a seizure. The interesting thing was that his ‘seizure’ was in his hand. It caused his fingers to practically dig into his palm and break the skin. The rest of him was fine and the cancer would not have been found when it was had he not had a seizure in his hand. While they were able to treat his brain tumor to alleviate the seizures, the cancer was too far advanced for any other treatment, so he chose hospice, at age 82.</p>
<p>“What about wishing someone well, which you also said you wouldn’t do? Well-wishes seem pretty benign to me.”</p>
<p>I’m certainly not going to lie about it. As I said, I wish him no ill will. Which means no suffering or misery. I think that’s sufficient. Make of it what you will.</p>
<p>The lack of compassion by some is simply astonishing. You’d think the man was Hitler or something. Wow. Just wow.</p>