UPDATE: Seems appropriate to re-post this today… and let Konservo speculate on what this means for Kennedy’s future. Originally posted May 22, 2008.
Cal Thomas has as good a column on reacting to Ted Kennedy’s illness as I have read on the Conservative side.
Kennedy said: “I am an American and a Catholic; I love my country and treasure my faith. But I do not assume that my conception of patriotism or policy is invariably correct, or that my convictions about religion should command any greater respect than any other faith in this pluralistic society.”
What student or advocate of the First Amendment would disagree with that? Is that not what the Founders had in mind when they prohibited a federally established religion while simultaneously guaranteeing its free exercise? Kennedy continued, “When people agree on public policy, they ought to be able to work together, even while they worship in diverse ways. For truly, we are all yoked together as Americans, and the yoke is the happy one of individual freedom and mutual respect.”
Again, not bad. He added: “Separation of church and state cannot mean an absolute separation between moral principles and political power. The challenge today is to recall the origin of the principle, to define its purpose, and refine its application to the politics of the present.”
I cannot agree with Kennedy’s politics, but I cannot argue with the above words he uttered in the speech that Thomas references. If not for the Thomas column, I would probably never have come across these words, as I was knee high to a grasshopper when the speech was given at Liberty Baptist College (that’s right, Falwell’s school).
I will never like the kind of politics he embodied, but I will not revel in his current circumstances.
Filed under: Democrats, Politics, Religion | Tagged: Edward Kennedy, Faith, Ted Kennedy
No, Obama for presidnt. MvcCain very old man. Go Obama go !
http://allainjulesblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/barack-obama-casse-la-baraque-et.html
If you want me to vote for Obama, you’ll have to come up with a much more convincing argument. “McCain is old” just simply is not remotely reason enough to vote for Bambi.
I also don’t give much credence to the post you referenced. My disapproval of Obama has nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with his judgment.
McCain may be older but he’s still going strong. Remember that people said Reagan was old, yet when he had the big meeting with Gorbachev that eventually resulted in the destruction of nuclear weapons he appeared much more energetic and youthful than the younger Gorbachev. McCain can go on the courage of his convictions.