What is felt in the hearts and minds of many is being echoed by one, President Jimmy Carter has taken a stand against the vitriolic behavior of those incensed with an African American as Head of State, Commander and Chief and President of the United States of America.
Keep in mind President Barack Obama won an election, where it wasn’t close enough to be called a fluke, or that some how he cheated the system. No, this President actually endured the evil system of racism and under currents of hate and still sustained a win.
The colored world, which knows well the vestiges of slavery, colonization and oppression, watches–Africa, Slavics, Russia, the Indigenous peoples, immigrants, The Middle East, Turkey, Asia, Central and South America, and Indonesia to see what will be.
Senator Edward Kennedy champion of Civil Rights, Education and against Nuclear Proliferation and tireless warrior for Health reform dies at 77 years of age.
I share this letter from President Barack Obama:
Julius –
Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy.
For nearly five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.
His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives — in seniors who know new dignity; in families that know new opportunity; in children who know education’s promise; and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just, including me.
In the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth and good cheer. He battled passionately on the Senate floor for the causes that he held dear, and yet still maintained warm friendships across party lines. And that’s one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy.
I personally valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I’ve benefited as President from his encouragement and wisdom.
His fight gave us the opportunity we were denied when his brothers John and Robert were taken from us: the blessing of time to say thank you and goodbye. The outpouring of love, gratitude and fond memories to which we’ve all borne witness is a testament to the way this singular figure in American history touched so many lives.
For America, he was a defender of a dream. For his family, he was a guardian. Our hearts and prayers go out to them today — to his wonderful wife, Vicki, his children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family.
Today, our country mourns. We say goodbye to a friend and a true leader who challenged us all to live out our noblest values. And we give thanks for his memory, which inspires us still.
Sincerely,
President Barack Obama
On a rainy Saturday, August 29, 2009 President Obama delivered Senator Kennedy’s Eulogy. Here is some of what the President said:
The President continued…
“But though it is Ted Kennedy’s historic body of achievements we will remember, it is his giving heart that we will miss. It was the friend and colleague who was always the first to pick up the phone and say, “I’m sorry for your loss,” or “I hope you feel better,” or “What can I do to help?” It was the boss who was so adored by his staff that over five hundred spanning five decades showed up for his 75th birthday party. It was the man who sent birthday wishes and thank you notes and even his own paintings to so many who never imagined that a U.S. Senator would take the time to think about someone like them. I have one of those paintings in my private study – a Cape Cod seascape that was a gift to a freshman legislator who happened to admire it when Ted Kennedy welcomed him into his office the first week he arrived in Washington; by the way, that’s my second favorite gift from Teddy and Vicki after our dog Bo. And it seems like everyone has one of those stories – the ones that often start with “You wouldn’t believe who called me today.”
Ted Kennedy was the father who looked after not only his own three children, but John’s and Bobby’s as well. He took them camping and taught them to sail. He laughed and danced with them at birthdays and weddings; cried and mourned with them through hardship and tragedy; and passed on that same sense of service and selflessness that his parents had instilled in him. Shortly after Ted walked Caroline down the aisle and gave her away at the altar, he received a note from Jackie that read, “On you the carefree youngest brother fell a burden a hero would have begged to be spared. We are all going to make it because you were always there with your love.”
Not only did the Kennedy family make it because of Ted’s love – he made it because of theirs; and especially because of the love and the life he found in Vicki. After so much loss and so much sorrow, it could not have been easy for Ted Kennedy to risk his heart again. That he did is a testament to how deeply he loved this remarkable woman from Louisiana. And she didn’t just love him back. As Ted would often acknowledge, Vicki saved him. She gave him strength and purpose; joy and friendship; and stood by him always, especially in those last, hardest days.
We cannot know for certain how long we have here. We cannot foresee the trials or misfortunes that will test us along the way. We cannot know God’s plan for us.
What we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose, and love, and joy. We can use each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them, and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. We can learn from our mistakes and grow from our failures. And we can strive at all costs to make a better world, so that someday, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our time here, we can know that we spent it well; that we made a difference; that our fleeting presence had a lasting impact on the lives of other human beings.
This is how Ted Kennedy lived. This is his legacy. He once said of his brother Bobby that he need not be idealized or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life, and I imagine he would say the same about himself. The greatest expectations were placed upon Ted Kennedy’s shoulders because of who he was, but he surpassed them all because of who he became. We do not weep for him today because of the prestige attached to his name or his office. We weep because we loved this kind and tender hero who persevered through pain and tragedy – not for the sake of ambition or vanity; not for wealth or power; but only for the people and the country he loved.
In the days after September 11th, Teddy made it a point to personally call each one of the 177 families of this state who lost a loved one in the attack. But he didn’t stop there. He kept calling and checking up on them. He fought through red tape to get them assistance and grief counseling. He invited them sailing, played with their children, and would write each family a letter whenever the anniversary of that terrible day came along. To one widow, he wrote the following:
“As you know so well, the passage of time never really heals the tragic memory of such a great loss, but we carry on, because we have to, because our loved one would want us to, and because there is still light to guide us in the world from the love they gave us.”
We carry on.
Ted Kennedy has gone home now, guided by his faith and by the light of those he has loved and lost. At last he is with them once more, leaving those of us who grieve his passing with the memories he gave, the good he did, the dream he kept alive, and a single, enduring image – the image of a man on a boat; white mane tousled; smiling broadly as he sails into the wind, ready for what storms may come, carrying on toward some new and wondrous place just beyond the horizon. May God Bless Ted Kennedy, and may he rest in eternal peace.”
I am reminded of the comments of a caller to the morning program on C-SPAN recently who asked why reporters were not giving the facts about Healthcare in the United States. She went on to say that Americans are waiting for real information and are sick of relying on the FAX (party line and industry talking points) but not the facts. “We are capable of making decisions,” she said.
Here’s the stunning part. The host of the program responded to the caller by saying the reporters job is to tell what each side is saying. “But what about the facts?” There was silence. I hope that silence was an admission of a ray of enlightenment of what is sorely missing not only in this program, but many news programs that say they are above entertaining us, but are trying to provide an informational service and not picking sides but siding with the facts, not just the FAX (political talking points).
We need wisdom not gamesmanship; like lets grade the president. Please, can we have an honest moment? What is the fear of putting the facts out there, is it because the game and trifle of hoodwinking ends?
Truth is a hard sale. Both Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite said it, but we should do it anyway.
So, reporters, factually does the American Healthcare system need reform?
Is the current Healthcare system a drag on the economy and the U.S. economic recovery?
Do Americans with Healthcare care about those who do not have any or can’t afford Health Insurance? How many Americans don’t have Healthcare? Is this a health problem for the nation according to the CDC, Centers For Disease Control? Why? (Perspective reading from the CDC on some chronic ills the nation faces.)
And when we face facts, from 30-thousand feet, for example facts and observations from the World Health Organization (WHO) what we find are reasons that compel movement forward on expanding health services, not, exclusion and entrenchment as leaders face the inequities in health services. The following excerpt is taken from the WHO 2008 report on Primary Health Care:
“In well-regulated and well-funded health-care systems; in addressing these patterns of exclusion within the health-care sector, the starting point is to create or strengthen networks of accessible quality primary-care services that rely on pooled pre-payment or public resources for their funding. Whether these networks are expanded by contracting commercial or not-for-profit providers, or by revitalizing dysfunctional public facilities is not the critical issue. The point is to ensure that they offer care of an acceptable standard.”
It goes on to say:
“Inequalities in women’s access to health care merit attention. In the United States, for example, declines in female life expectancy of up to five years in over 1000 counties point to differential exposure and clustering of risks to health even as the country’s economy and health sector continues to grow. For a variety of reasons, some groups within these societies are either not reached or insufficiently reached by opportunities for health or services and continue to experience health outcomes systematically inferior to those of more advantaged groups.”
Reporters which counties were identified? Which states are the counties in question located? Which congressional districts are the counties? Why is this happening? Is it a trend? Is it an aberration? Is it true? Should we care about the life expectancy of some women, all women and to at least check it out? Absurd?
Consider this. We are the evidence of the present Healthcare system. We reflect wellness or the lack thereof. We live under the fear of getting cancer, having a heart attack, suffering from stroke, high blood pressure, having a nervous breakdown and miscarriages, HIV-AIDS and there is a resurgence of tuberculosis.
Cancer is an industry now. It wasn’t when I was a young boy growing up in Cleveland, Ohio in the early 50’s. I recount the following observations in my yet to be published historical/memoir Saints, Sages and Presidents: Media’s Impressions On A Life:
“My world was safe enough.”
World news did creep in during weekend gatherings at Papa’s house and the men folk talked about the issues… “This thing called cancer is some mean stuff.”“I tell you when they solve the rust problem; they’ll cure cancer,” they would say.Had they surmised oxidation was a factor in both?Hmmm!
There is an industry built around heart attacks. diabetes and HIV-AIDS. Its as if when Jonas Salk and others who solved polio (through polio prevention vaccines), that the achievement itself and breakthrough came to symbolize bad news in some sectors… No it was and should prevail as symbolizing the promise of “good news;” a healthy and vibrant people. My ancient teachings inform me that humanity moves forward, it evolves. A word that may fit better for the times we live, is converge. No matter how much we kick, yell and scream the older we get, the further down life’s trial we find ourselves certain recurring thoughts emerge…”This journey is finite and we want much of it lived healthy, if not all of it… Is that consensus or convergence, or both?”
Somewhere we have gotten off track. And, some have rightly reported that a number of Presidents have realized that the issue of health or wellness is critical and it must be addressed in the main, so that a true pursuit of happiness for all can occur.
As the C-SPAN caller said, Americans are capable of making good decisions when they are given reliable facts. Can you give us some hard facts, not the FAX? Achieving a good policy, a Healthcare Accord, is essential and critical to all citizens now, regardless of allegiances, ratings and circulation numbers.
At the end of October the Senate and the House unveiled Healthcare Reforms bills that were similar.
House Democratic leadership step carefully in passage of its affordable healthcare bill.
Saturday, November 7th, the House passed its Healthcare Reform measure by a 220 to 215 vote.
Thursday, December 24th, the Senate passed its Healthcare package by a 60-39 vote. Not a single Republican Senator voted in favor of the historic health insurance reform measure that would give an estimated 30-million citizens currently without health insurance the right to coverage.
Why?
Why were the Republicans against Social Security? Why were Republicans against Medicare?
Was it, or is it, because of a belief in staunch individualism? There is an ancient saying, “go alone and go high, go together and go far.” Personally I would rather share with others and go far.
Sometimes our contributions do fall short, but we have to do it with people, engage them where they are to have any real meaning…That’s love and it is the only thing that transcends this life.
My thoughts on Christmas Eve, 2009.
The two bills, the Senate’s and the house’s will be hammered into one piece of legislation during conference.
This sentiment echoed across some media, “the Democratic majority is governing.”
Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino follows in the foot-steps of great ladies like Elenaor Roosevelt and Corretta Scott King, women who took on the great missions of their husbands and continued to chart a course for the betterment of people as their testaments.
In the soon to be published book Saints, Sages and Presidents: Media’s Impressions On A Life, there is an account of the story of Mrs. Aquino spearheading the revolution in The Philippines and bringing democracy to the Island nation. I covered the story for CNN’s Big Story and beyond.
“Big Story was more than a program. It was an instrument, guided by Sam Zelman, that gave CNN story coverage an in-depth brand identity and helped to shape the core strengths of the network.
Big Story was the programming instrument that galvanized the single thought that CNN truly told the most important story of the week effectively and without equivocation.
Big Story out performed newspapers and magazines accounts, even though it relied on Lexis-Nexis, newspaper and magazine print for much of its research. Its pictures could take the viewer on the scene and those pictures underscored by deft research and production supplied the audience an undeniable experience and knowledge. In short the program served to promote CNN’s news prowess in the marketplace.
One such Big Story program that positioned the CNN brand well spoke about the waning days and the eventual collapse of the regime of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.
CNN had already stayed on the story longer than any of the networks and then it capped the coverage off with a thirty-minute retrospective that spoke to CNN’s core message, “News Information is the Star.”
The drama that played out over days, was captured in precious documentary style, up close; from showing the protests over a stolen election by Marcos to the negotiations between US emissary Philip Habib in the Reagan Administration to avert an all out revolution.
Three questions formed the backdrop of the suspense: Did President Reagan request that the longtime U.S. ally to step down? Did President Ferdinand Marcos decide on his own to abdicate power to save his country from ruin? Did Presidents Reagan and Marcos agree to safe passage to Hawaii as a way for the embattled dictator to leave his post?
I came across an editorial in the Washington Post newspaper written by Richard Holbrook and an article in the New York Times by Barbara Crossette that served to augment and broaden the perspectives of the program’s coverage concerning the removal of Marcos; we begin with Holbrook:
“How could it have happened? How could Ronald Reagan, of all people, end up telling Ferdinand Marcos that he would have to give up the presidency of the Philippines to a group of rebellious military leaders and a woman who, 75 days ago, described herself as a housewife?
How did Marcos, at the end of a lifelong relationship with America, find himself in a public confrontation with a conservative president who, he had thought, would be his best friend in the White house since Lyndon Johnson?
Should anyone take credit, other than the Philippine people? Did the U.S. finally learn something about dealing with dictators on the decline, or did we simply luck out?
The clearest thing that can be said about the Reagan policy is that, despite its occasional impression, it worked—perhaps a better outcome than in any similar crisis in postwar American history. Why? Several reasons are evident:
In the Philippines, there was a democratic alternative to the traditional choice between the strongman and the radicals—a key difference between the Philippines on one hand and Iran, Nicaragua and South Vietnam on the other.
After a rocky start, our Philippines policy gathered bipartisan support, with a conservative president following an ultimately liberal policy while incorporating the symbolism and ideology of his own past. The Democrats not only supported Reagan but also for the most part left him room to maneuver.
The administration benefited from the relative un-involvement of Reagan himself, which left his aides free to craft a policy that could respond quickly to events—a foreign-policy approach that might best be described as “ad-hoc ism.”
As the end neared, there was consensus within the administration, across ideological lines that Marcos could no longer govern effectively. This consensus checked the usual inter-agency bickering.
Marcos’ fall came quickly, before the American right could regroup around an alternative to Marcos, or a catastrophe in Manila could produce second-guessing in Washington and the usual finger-pointing recriminations.
Marcos self-destruction on American television, while Corazon Aquino, after a slow start, captured the imagination of the American public. Television increased the immediacy of The Philippines crisis in the United States and the sense that the U.S. had a stake in its outcome.
Barbara Crossette wrote in a special to the New York Times the heart-felt sentiment of the country’s new President, which Big Story captured on video, the power of words and pictures of the demonstrators were undeniable in this presentation and the New Eden (Free Nations) stood to be well informed because of it.
“They streamed along boulevards and back streets today, bearing balloons and icons, guitars and firecrackers – hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of jubilant Filipinos heading for a park on the shores of Manila Bay to join in a mass of thanksgiving.
But the unprecedented public outpouring of joy became something more, something new; a celebration of a week in which this nation believes it showed the world the meaning of democracy.
‘When they write and talk about these events,’ President Corazon Aquino said of the revolution that brought an end to the 20-year rule of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, ‘you can proudly say, I was there. I heeded the call to protect the friendly rebel forces. I put my bare hands on the ranks. I faced bayonet-wielding and tear gas throwing troops.’
‘All these and many more, my friends, are our moments in history,’ the President told the cheering throng.
‘On the streets of New York, I have heard that people are being stopped and congratulated for being Filipinos,’ she said.
‘I think we have taught the world how to make a revolution,’ Francisco S. Tatad, one of the country’s leading political columnists, said in an interview ‘This whole experience rewrote the textbook of democracy. We have demonstrated the power of active nonviolence, perhaps distilled by prayer.’
‘Proud to be Filipino’ is the catch phrase of the week. It appears on T-shirts, in countless newspaper columns, in conversations.
‘I am sure that Ninoy is smiling at us now,’ Mrs. Aquino said, using the nickname of her late husband, slain at Manila Airport as he was returning from exile in the United States. ‘We have proven him correct, that the Filipino is worth dying for.’
And, if you didn’t read the accounts, CNN was there. Determined to write itself in history by telling the story, without glitz or glamour, capturing events like never before by making good use of technology, cameras on the ground capturing sights and sounds of revolution, sound journalism, the written and oral accounting of pillar to post activism and mission focused.
Tell the story of this South China Sea multiple island nation struggling for internally for external identity and freedoms. The only big payday was being there. Be present as a witness, an observer while allowing plenty of room for viewers to experience the impossible become possible; a deeply entrenched dictatorship dissolve becoming fodder for yellow carnations, representing the bright hope of democracy.’
Burt Reinhardt, then president of CNN, called me on the telephone to extend his appreciation to everyone for our coverage. Good job. Let everyone Know.”
Today in her passing the free world says good job Mrs. Corazon Aquino for igniting the flame of Democracy throughout Southeast Asia.
Legendary CBS News Anchorman Walter Cronkite reporting on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
A reflective Walter Cronkite gives journalists today much to ponder if we thoroughly consider his words expressed at the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Awards Ceremony, as he accepted the prestigious Award on behalf of CBS, September 17, 1987, in New Orleans.
“I’m greatly honored and deeply pleased that you should choose to bestow this award on me tonight.
I’m not normally a humble man, but humility is forced on anyone who shares the stage with those who have won your recognition for their work in broadcast journalism.
Ours is a much-maligned profession today, and, indeed, there are a lot of things that we all know we could improve. All we have to do is read our own publications–your Communicator, the Columbia Journalism Review, the reports of the excellent work of The Freedom Forum and the standing or special committees of The American Society of Newspaper Editors, the American Newspaper Publishers Association, the AP Managing Editors Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Broadcasters, and, of course the Radio-Television News Directors Association.
No other profession spends as much time examining its navel as we do–and we do it far more publicly than any of the others.
We rush to print with every morsel of self-criticism to the point that you would think we were dedicated to destroying the free press instead of preserving it.
Of course there are things wrong, with probably the most obvious manifestation being the “tabloid-ization” of too much of our work. Mainline journalism seems to have accepted the standards of what once was known as the penny press. It is to worry.
And, of course, the bottom line of our discomfort is the bottom line itself.
With almost total unanimity, our big, corporate owners, infected with the greed that marks the end of the 20th Century, stretch constantly for ever-increasing profit, condemning quality to take the hindmost. If there is any solution to this problem it might be found in educating the share-holding public to their responsibility in owning this business, which is fundamental to the preservation of our democracy.
If they understood the nature of this public service and treated their investment in it accordingly, we would be saved from compromising journalistic integrity in the mad scramble for ratings and circulation. In other words, if they did not expect the constantly increasing, unconscionable profits now expected from most investments but accepted a rational and steady return on their investment in this essential public service of newspapers and broadcast news.
You might give some thought to this organization promoting this idea. Utopian? Oh, I suppose so. But besides serving democracy it has its practical side of direct benefit to you. By making this case, you’ll get the monkey off your backs and direct the public’s dissatisfaction with our broadcasts and press where it belongs.
But we all know what is wrong–and as professionals, we all know how to fix it if given the mandate from our bosses, or if we can wrest control from the bottom liners. Let our battle cry be: Editors, not auditors.
Meanwhile, we can be mighty proud of our craft that is represented by those we’ve seen up here tonight. I’m mighty proud of our profession. I’m proud of the physical courage shown by many–in war and civil insurrection and in dozens of less spectacular ways.
I’m proud of those who expose the culpable even at the risk of their freedom, or even their lives.
I’m proud of those who have the courage to reject the favors of the newsmakers; those who do not become part of the establishment, who preserve access to the inner circle without becoming members of it.
I’m proud of those with courage to withstand the wrath of their neighbors and face social ostracism in pursuit of the truth.
I’m proud of those who have the courage to reject conformity with their colleagues and hold on to their vision of the truth while others around them seem blind and scornful.
I’m proud, too, of all those who work in the backrooms of our media–on rewrite, copy desks, assignment desks, editing film and tape–professionals all. Their devotion to this business may be greater than all those media stars they make look so good.
There are bad apples in our barrel, of course, but as a class, there is a purity of intent and purpose in journalism that is unique:
We are good conservatives, demanding proof of the need for change. We are good liberals, ideologically bound to no cause or dogma. And, so unfettered, we can make a claim of selflessness denied to other persons.
Our only enemies are those who would erect barriers between the people and the truth. And the perpetual struggle against them–ah, my friends, there is a crusade that’s worth the ride.
Thank you, and good luck.”
At his funeral so many accomplished individuals spoke to the character and integrity of Walter Cronkite; 60-minutes Andy Rooney’s account of his friend is exemplary.
News J Review
