Chappaquiddick incident. May Mary Jo rest in peace now

[JMS]

A friend here on the forums requested that I post this wiki article in the RIP Ted Kennedy thread. I didn't have the heart to do it on the off chance that Senator Kennedy made peace with himself and God over this incident. I will however post the article here and let everyone judge for themselves.

Chappaquiddick incident - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[BKratchmer]

I find it not only in poor taste to judge another man so harshly for his mistakes (God knows I have made mine) but even poorer to post it for someone else who does not have a wherewithal to do it themselves.

[JMS]

I find it not only in poor taste to judge another man so harshly for his mistakes (God knows I have made mine) but even poorer to post it for someone else who does not have a wherewithal to do it themselves.

I guess I am a poor tasting bastard then but I am not judging Senator Kennedy as you suggest. I am only laying out the article for anyone who wishes to read it. It is Gods to judge in the final analysis

[icedog]

I guess I am a poor tasting bastard then but I am not judging Senator Kennedy as you suggest. I am only laying out the article for anyone who wishes to read it. It is Gods to judge in the final analysis

Mark,

I didn't know you are a bastard. I thought your parents were married. Either way I'm sure, with some fava beans and a nice chianti you would taste as deliscious as any other hypocrite. You see, when you put out something that reads, "I will however post the article here and let everyone judge for themselves." you are inviting judgement by someone other than God. If you really believed what you wrote, you'd stay out of it.

Your Friend,

Brad

[billyjeff2]

The problem with the original post, IMO, is that is violates the traditional notion of not speaking ill of the recently-departed, at least in the immediate aftermath of their death. There's not an educated person in this Country that doesn't know about the Chappaquiddick incident. The Right wing talkers have been bringing this issue up for the past 30 or so years on almost a daily basis. But rather than let at least a few day pass before bringing up yet again, some out there have chosen to focus on it before the senator's body has even assumed room temperature.

Mark often ignites the flame thrower of controversy while simultaneously asserting that he's "just putting it out there". I think the classy thing would have been to lay low and show some respect for a reasonable period of time-at least until the funeral and mourning period passes and then, if you felt compelled to do so, resume your practice of dredging up the dirt you are so fond of flinging against a political opponent.

[smokelaw1]

1) Horrible event, handled horribly. Did he NOT serve jailtime because of his last name? Perhaps. Did he go back inthe water after her? I have no idea. I'd guess no, but it would be a guess.
Could I have just as easily caused the death of my companions as a stupid young man? Absolutely. Would I have done whatever I could to avoid jailtime? you betcha. Would I then be able to get into national government, well, probably not...and for more reasons than just for that.
But it is one event. For all the reasons for the Righties to dislike Senator Kennedy, this truly does ring the least true. We are talking about him because he served this country for over 4 decades. Plenty of people commit vehicular homicide and never get mentioned again.

2) Don't pretend to care about this young woman. There are thousands of tragically killed people out there...where is your concern for them?
Pretend the victim of this awful accident was a single mother of three. She is working two jobs, neither of which provides health care. She can not afford to go to the doctor, she gets pregnant, gets sick, and she is fired. She can not go to the doctor, she can not put food on the table, and she loses her home. She dies from a treatable condition that would have been treated ina country with great wealth AND a healthcare system that supplies all with their basic needs. Her children become the wards of a state that can not afford to give them the services they so desparately need. They turn to the people around them in the underfunded system, and act as they see. They become criminals, they do drugs, and they do not get an education. They also do not get good jobs or healthcare. God help them if they are also non white. And it's ALL THEIR FAULT. "PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILTY" people scream. Accountability is a fine thing. A fine thing indeed. if we as a society can give all people the tools to be accountable, and something WORTH accounting for, I think that might make a difference. THESE issues happen every day, and the stupid, tax and spend take-your-money and know better than you what to do with it liberals want to actually DO something about it.

Now, if THIS was Mary Jo, my dear, furious hatred spewing "conservative" friends...all of a sudden, do you care for "justice?" What if Mary Jo died not from a horrible car accident, but from a system that is broken, and could be FIXED if we all just decided to fight hard for it?

I'm just throwing it out there...make up your own minds. But, I do know of someone who came from privelege, and didn't need to work so hard for them, who did care deeply, and fought valiently for this type of person. Because he knew it in his heart to be the right thing to do.

Let's try to judge him for that, shall we? If we may not, let's at least temper our hatred withthe fact that he followed what his heart told him was right, and acted accoring to his principles.


I have no idea if anyone is still reading this stream of conciousness drivel. I haven't proof read it, and have no idea if it makes any sense or if it is a single incoherent run on sentence. If it is, please disregard and assume I am drunk, or maybe stupid. If it makes any sense, just give it a thought.

Hate the man for his liberal ideals, I get that. I don't agree with it, but I get it. But respect the fact that he served his country in the way he saw fit. there are plenty of people who respect service even if they don't agree with the way it is carried out. And I think we should all show that respect. I know I would, even if Bush V1 or Bush V2 died today.

[icedog]

The problem with the original post, IMO, is that is violates the traditional notion of not speaking ill of the recently-departed...
Mark often ignites the flame thrower of controversy while simultaneously asserting that he's "just putting it out there"...

Man I would expect more from a "Mentor". Sheese Mark you really let us all down here.

[JMS]

I find it not only in poor taste to judge another man so harshly for his mistakes (God knows I have made mine) but even poorer to post it for someone else who does not have a wherewithal to do it themselves.

By the way, my friend and I believe yours too, is no coward, just a little lacking in computer skills.

[nun2sharp]

If I had the skills I would have done it myself. I am not trying to pronounce judgement on Ted, I would rather have seen justice for Mary Jo. It is hard for me to listen to the adoration of the late senator when in reality he was as irresponsible as they come. Read the story of Mary Jo Kopechne and make your own decision.

[BKratchmer]

If I had the skills I would have done it myself. I am not trying to pronounce judgement on Ted, I would rather have seen justice for Mary Jo. It is hard for me to listen to the adoration of the late senator when in reality he was as irresponsible as they come. Read the story of Mary Jo Kopechne and make your own decision.

Thanks. I know the story, and I do think it is awful... but it is not for me to judge a man based on one incident. I also think it is good to recognize that he never claimed to be a great moral leader, nor denied many accusations against him... you want someone really slimy, look at Mark Sanford.


That said, I do think Teddy was a bit of an....orc amongst senators.