<p>My prayers aren’t just for people I deem worthy but any human in need and I will pray for Kennedy and his loved ones.</p>
<p>And I hope for the sake of humanity, that most feel as you do. </p>
<p>Ya know, at most funerals, no matter who they are for, the eulogy focuses on the positive things about the person, even though the person may have also sinned (or had a mental illness). Sorry to bring up funerals as this thread is simply about a cancer diagnosis but I’m just making a point.</p>
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<p>Edward Kennedy was 37 years old when he killed Mary Jo Kopechne and used his political clout to walk away scot free.</p>
<p>ID…I did not know that Senator Spectgor had cancer. I feel great sadness for him and his family. </p>
<p>b’smom, you make a great point…the perspectives that I am reading that some hold here do not go well with becoming a lawyer of physician.</p>
<p>ID…re: post 142…the point isn’t just about mistakes or poor judgment or yes, even evil things, done in youth but at ANY time in one’s life. Cancer or even death is sad for any human being. A person’s life is not defined only by their sins (or I hope not!) or only by their mental illnesses for that matter either. It is the sum of their life.</p>
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DonnaL --I wish this thread would be closed for the same reasons. Vile, uncalled for attacks on an ill person. Thanks for the diet plan everyone- I am about to lose my lunch and dinner.</p>
<p>What does Chappaquiddick have to do with empathy for a cancer diagnosis???</p>
<p>I hope I never have a relative who is accused of a crime or becomes addicted. Also, I hope I never have a car accident. Either way, apparently I will deserve to have a brain tumor and have people celebrate my illness.</p>
<p>And I have nothing but empathy for Senator Spector’s family, even if he is busy spending his final days trying to blame someone else for his favorite NFL team losing the Superbowl a few years ago. The fact that I disagree with his politics does not mean he deserves to have cancer, and I admire his fight against the disease.</p>
<p>Having cancer does not make anyone a saint. But neither is it a sentence imposed for “bad” behavior earlier in life.</p>
<p>jym,
I certainly find it a disgrace to be attacking an ill person on a thread about their illness (which is not the same as discussing someone’s life’s work or politics). However, as disconcerting as some posts are, I know that CC allows for all viewpoints, as well as attacks of public figures. Still, it is very hard to stomach attacks at the time of one’s cancer diagnosis as it is the most opposite from human empathy in a civilized society that we can get.</p>
<p>Of course death is sad. It will be for Ted Kennedy’s family. Just like it was for Mary Jo Kopeche’s family.</p>
<p>It will be sad for his family when OJ Simpson dies. It will be sad for Billy and his family when Whitey Bulger dies. It’s sad that Ted Kennedy has brain cancer.</p>
<p>ID…if it is a sad time for Ted Kennedy and his family, why use this time and this thread to criticize his past actions and politics or even those of his son’s? This is not that time or that discussion. That is more appropriate when discussing a politician OUTSIDE of this context. This is truly troubling to many of us.</p>
<p>I have a new lack of respect for a number of CC members after reading this thread. I’d say you should be ashamed of yourselves, but really each of us is only responsible for our own reactions, and so I will report that I am ashamed of us collectively. I may take tomorrow off and volunteer somewhere in penance (and I haven’t even posted to the thread until now, except to point at a CNN article).</p>
<p>Perhaps as with the freerepublic.com forum mentioned earlier, the moderators should close down this disgraceful trainwreck.</p>
<p>While I vehemently disagree with the people who have posted opinions here that to me are horrifically inappropriate considering they are talking about a dying man, I think that those people have the right to express their opinions.</p>
<p>I also think that any person also needs our compassion if they – upon learning that another human being is dying – feel it necessary to post venom about that person. There must have been something heartbreaking and soul shattering in such a person’s background for them to respond in such a way to hearing about another human being’s fatal illness.</p>
<p>Northstarmom, I agree with both of your points in post #152.</p>
<p>mootmom your post is way over the top. You are censoring opinions you don’t like. Some of us have reflected his life with poignancy. Why should this thread be shut down ?</p>
<p>While I respect Sen Kennedy and his opinions, I am not a fan of his. I do however, wish the best for him and his family. I would never wish ill health on ANYONE (not being reelected is another matter). My prayers are with him and his family, even if his ideas are radically different from mine!</p>
<p>My first thought upon reading your post, NSM, was, “Right on.”</p>
<p>I shall work on nurturing that compassion, and dispelling my feelings of disgrace. Thank you for the reminder, and I hope others will consider it also.</p>
<p>Step 1: leaving CC for the evening.</p>
<p>Edvest, when you go to a funeral, do you expect to hear remarks in the eulogy about the sins someone has done or the negative actions of that person or do you expect the focus to be on the positive contributions that person has made in their life?</p>
<p>You see, I am having a hard time reconciling your post about Chappaquidick in the context of a discussion about a grave diagnosis and illness. While I think Chappaquidick does involve negative actions, I don’t see that as appropriate in this context or at this time. I could see such a discussion if discussing a politician and his life history. This is not such a discussion and at this time, most would focus on empathy for a grave illness and try to reflect on some good that person has done and not solely on their negative actions or sins.</p>
<p>I pray for his complete and rapid recovery and comfort for him and his family.</p>
<p>All politics aside.</p>
<p>(hi mootie!)</p>
<p>That’s enough.</p>