We buried Senator Ted Kennedy yesterday, but a new morning gives us hope and purpose, as it does every new day of our lives. Yesterday we heard the speeches, prayers, and sacred text. Today Ted is watching us. It's time to raise some hell.
Not literally raise hell, since for those of us who are Christians that's more than just a creepy scene from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We need to raise hell in the time-honored progressive tradition of standing up, pushing back, and being militant. Not mean spirited, but joyous...and not afraid of causing a ruckus. Not a threat, but a promise.
Ted is watching us in so many ways--from sacred to mundane. Last night after his coffin passed by many miles of people paying their last respects we saw Ted laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery next to his two brothers. White roses were placed on his coffin...and also at the flickering flame marking the grave of his brother Jack. As the sunlight faded the children and grandchildren were solemn silhouettes and the half-staff cemetery flag was illuminated with lightning bolts. If you don't believe in omens, at least embrace the metaphors.
Ted is watching us through the eyes of every child who is hungry or cold. He is watching us through the eyes of every undocumented immigrant forced to work long hours in unspeakable conditions for inadequate wages. Ted is watching us through the eyes of every person ever vilified, spat on, or assaulted because they are Black, Mexican, Asian, Jewish, Muslim, immigrant, or gay. He is watching us through eyes that are dimmed with age, clenched in pain, or blinded and dark. Ted is watching us through the eyes of every sick person battling an insurance company bureaucrat for a needed treatment or medicine. He is watching us through the eyes of every poor panicked parent rushing their child with a high fever to an emergency room because they have no other option.
People deserve quality healthcare as a basic human right. It doesn't matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican, or an Independent. It doesn't matter if you think the two parties are annoying twins slavishly protecting the ruling class. The time is now. Get some backbone and stand up and speak out. Speak to your family, your friends, your neighbors in the supermarket check-out line.
Ted's grave was but a few paces away when he tugged at our sleeves one more time with a reminder to keep his promise--the promise he passed on to President Barack Obama. The priest read portions of a letter from Ted carried to the Pope by our President. Ted confessed he had failings and sins, but was proud to have followed spiritual mandates to champion the dignity of the poor and workers, and the idea that quality healthcare is a basic human right for all.
And we are worrying about taking the time to make a phone call or spending an hour at a rally? It's time to stop whining about how unfair the right-wing attacks are. It's time to get up off our butts and take action. It can range from writing a letter to an elected representative to non-violent civil disobedience. For starters, there are rallies and vigils across America this week by Move On and SEIU. Other events will follow. I will be there. So should you. Bring your family and friends.
President Barack Obama praised Ted for modeling how to struggle intensely against your opponents, but never stooping to demonize or denounce them. Be loud. Be Raucous. Be militant. But be civil.
In the Sunday Washington Post two veteran activists write a prescription for more audacity on the part of our President. We should defend Obama against the vicious and racist attacks from the reactionary political right; but we can have Obama's back while we are kicking his butt. This is not a contradiction. Speak truth to power. This was a slogan of the Civil Rights Movement and is now the mantra of the global human rights movement. This is what successful progressive social movements do toforge real change out of raw hope.
We may lose this skirmish, but as progressives at least we will be able to look at ourselves in the mirror in the morning and respect what we see. To paraphrase the poet Robert Frost, favored by Ted and quoted by Ted's son Patrick at the funeral service in Boston...we have promises to keep, and miles to go before we sleep...
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