Watching Edward M. Kennedy

For almost a hundred years, the Kennedy's have captured the public's attention here and abroad. Even now, long after most of them have gone from the scene, we are fascinated by tidbits of gossip and speculation about them which come out from time to time. Their accomplishments - great or insignificant - have been private and public, as have their sins. Yet, we should not condemn - let history be the judge. Have they been worth all the attention? Will all the grandiosity finally end with the death of Edward M. Kennedy? Surely, from the standpoint of media interest, he will go out with a bang. Remember the vigil during Pope John Paul II's last days? Besides, the Kennedy's don't do anything quietly.

Since being diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer, speculation as to how many days he has left has come from both sides of the aisle, so to speak. Other than myself, I don't know anyone who is non-partisan when it comes to the Kennedy's. Will he last a year - six months - a year and six months? Nobody knows. Will he become less adversarial and less controversial as a result of his terminal disease? Nobody knows. Will he go crazy and make wild pronouncements and take fringe or extreme positions on important issues as a result of it? Nobody knows. Will he resign? Nobody knows. How much will he spend to stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible? Nobody knows. Will he become completely useless? Nobody knows.

One thing is certain: his departure will be noisy. He will be noticed. He will be paid attention to. My uncle Gus had a huge malignant growth on his spine about five years ago. He got treated and survived it and - at 80 - is still doing very well. Maybe thirty people knew about it; after all, he is not a Kennedy.

Being struck by a malignancy like this can't feel all that good; however, he's luckier than most of us. At least he knows how much longer he'll be walking among the living. He will fight like a lion, though he knows he will lose. He must know that dignity and integrity are not the same thing. He will therefore let go of his dignity if he must, for the sake of his physical integrity. Yes, his first surgery has been successful, but he will still lose his magnificent hair. Who knows what other debilitating and embarrassing symptoms might come his way? Not unlike Savonarola, who suffered a humiliating public execution for no good reason, he will die publicly.
For lots of Americans, there's the Presidency, then the Papacy, then the Kennedy Dynasty. During the next year or so, we will be watching the illness against The Last Kennedy make its insidious progress - we just won't be able to help ourselves.