Last Space Shuttle Closes Pact with the Kennedys
By: Ed Farnan | Published Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 2:52 PM | Updated Friday, September 9, 2011, 10:32 PM
On Thursday morning I appeared on Fox News to speak about the Shuttles final mission as it glided to final descent. Since I had written about how President Kennedy's vision for space had brought us to land on the moon, Fox wanted me to talk to their audience about it.
I was struck by the emotion of the momentous and somber occasion that closed this chapter on America's pioneering history. Afterwards, with reflection, I was struck by the thought that even though America had given the Kennedy family great wealth and power, the Kennedy's have given back...Greatly. It seems they struck a pact with America and honored their end of the bargain with the ultimate sacrifice.
Joe Kennedy Sr. was born in a land where intelligence, ambition and drive could make up for, a royal name, unlike his parents homeland, Ireland. America was a land of opportunity for him and he made his mark in a huge way, wildly successful and wielding great power.
During his rise to wealth and power Joe had four Sons with his wife Rose: Joe, Jack, Bobbie and Ted and five Daughters, Eunice, Jean, Rosemary, Kathleen and Pat. They were were born into wealth and wouldn't have to know what it took to struggle financially. They could have lived an idyllic lifestyle never bothering with the mundane worries of life.
Joe taught his kids to love and respect America and give back to this country that had given them so much. With that wealth and power, they could have used it to shield themselves from the same challenges that ordinary Americans had to face.
But when World War II broke out, two Kennedy young men, joined the American armed forces to fight for their country and they chose front line combat positions. Joe became a pilot in the European war theater where his aircraft exploded in mid air killing him. Jack became a commander of a PT boat in the dangerous waters near the Philippines. His boat was cut in half by an enemy destroyer. He and his crew were left to die in the middle of the ocean. They survived but Jack had excruciating back injuries that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Jack went on to become President, probably one of the most charismatic and visionary leaders we have had. A hawk, he defended America like a pit bull and stood up to the worlds bullies. Brother Bobbie became the Attorney General and during his command he waged war on the organized crime syndicates that permeated our country.
Both of these Brothers were struck down by assassins bullets while they were doing what they loved to do, giving back to the country that had given them so much.
Ted was the surviving Brother and I know the toll it took on him from the loss of his Brothers. Although I agreed with little that Ted Kennedy did politically, I do respect him very much for picking up the mantel and trying to give back to the country that their Dad adopted for them.
With the recent passing of Ted and the final Space Shuttle mission. I think the Kennedy's have closed their end of the pact with America.
I will be appearing on Fox and Friends again this Sunday, to talk about President Kennedy and the Space shuttle mission.
For other points of view visit Carroll Standard:http://www.carrollstandard.com/
14 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.maloney | Jul 30, 2011, 01:02 AM EDT
obamination the liberals and your opinion ratboy will be the first things piled on the trash heap. Al Qaeda is alive and running just like your stupid arse mouth. Both will be silenced in the near future.
Ratslayer | Jul 29, 2011, 06:06 PM EDT
As my mom says: Republicans are nothing more than Terrorists -- always seeking to destroy what works and what makes this country great. Look at the current debt-ceiling circus. Like a bunch of selfish and self-absorbed brats, the tea-baggers are willing and ready to help tank the US and Global economies. The GOP proves once again it can't govern nor act for the common good. Hopefully the GOP will go the same way as Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda -- to the trash heap of history.
shamrock99 | Jul 27, 2011, 09:31 AM EDT
If President Kennedy was alive today, he certainly would not be in lock-step with Obama's socialistic views. It is very refreshing to read articles from a more conservative, centrist view. Kudos Ed Farnan !
maloney | Jul 25, 2011, 08:03 PM EDT
ratboy..your mum would be proud.
Monsoonman | Jul 25, 2011, 08:00 PM EDT
Ratslayer, you are so eloquent when you speak, a real credit to the left. Keep it up.
Ratslayer | Jul 25, 2011, 03:27 PM EDT
If Jack were alive today, he certainly would not want some right-wing, know-nothing tea-bagger hack discussing his great legacy nor would he stand for the bullshiite, hatred and lies that Fox spews everyday.
EdinCali | Jul 24, 2011, 12:54 PM EDT
The only person who walked this earth who didn't have anything to be criticized for got nailed to a cross by the Romans. The Kennedys werent saints by any means and had their weaknesses. They didn't shy away from a brawl when it came to fighting for what they believed in. Two Kennedy Sons put their lives on the line to fight for our country and 3 out of 4 paid the ultimate price in the service of their country. Can't get anymore patriotic or give anymore than that.
CitizenWhy | Jul 24, 2011, 10:56 AM EDT
What about Joe Kennedy's having sex with the Irish maids, and then tormenting them that they would be going off to Hell forever? Was that part of the ruthlessness that made him millions?
CitizenWhy | Jul 24, 2011, 10:54 AM EDT
Fox News should be happy. The space program has been privatized, with a number of companies racing to get to the moon. Will they care about national security? No, they are foreign or US globalized, loyal to any any country that allows them to maximize their profits.
joycean | Jul 24, 2011, 10:37 AM EDT
I remeber when JFK was elected PResident. At last, we Irish Catholics had arrived. My Irish grandmother, who died the same year he was inaugurated, said, "He was the only President I ever knew." That was the way the Kennedy's were in Massachusetts: we knew them.
mamaginnty | Jul 23, 2011, 06:55 PM EDT
I thought this would save America Billions, President Obama did not cause the debt, America has been heading that way for years...200 Trillion from what the news mentions.
EdinCali | Jul 23, 2011, 12:35 PM EDT
oops! Thanks you Rhunter for that info. I corrected the piece and added Kennedy Daughters: Rosemary, Kathleen and Pat!
rhunter67 | Jul 23, 2011, 11:14 AM EDT
Joe Kennedy had 5 daughters not 2...in addition to Eunice and Jean there was Rosemary, Kathleen and Pat. Is it since Rosmeary had issues, Kathleen died young and Pat was more anonymous that they don't deserve youe mention?
mrkennedy | Jul 23, 2011, 10:57 AM EDT
My favorite Kennedy was Rose. She lived through the immoral actions of her husband and sons without any media quotes. Of all the Kennedy's she undoubtedly went directly to Heaven!!!!