Senator Edward M. Kennedy (1932-2009)

"And this is the cause of my life -- new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American -- north, south, east, west, young, old -- will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege...

Yes, we are all Americans. This is what we do. We reach the moon. We scale the heights. I know it. I've seen it. I've lived it. And we can do it again.

There is a new wave of change all around us, and if we set our compass true, we will reach our destination -- not merely victory for our Party, but renewal for our nation.

And this November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans, so with Barack Obama and for you and for me, our country will be committed to this cause. The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on."

~from the Senator's iconic 2008 DNC speech

Interestingly, I can remember sitting in the Senate Gallery as a child, watching Senators milling about in their vaunted chamber when Ted Kennedy entered the room. To me it was a magical experience since that was the first time I had ever seen a member of the famed Kennedy family in real life. Mr. Kennedy really was larger than life, and the affection his colleagues had for him as backs were slapped and conversations were had was clearly evident in my then adoloscent eyes.

Later, as I grew older and more interested in politics, I developed a true admiration for the man in the Senate who, despite his station in life, defended the rights and dignity of the underprivileged, of minorities, of womyn, and of the gay and lesbian community. I pray that other progressive Senators will work to honor his memory, and will fight for equal rights for all people with the same indefatigable intensity that Senatory Kennedy did during his lifetime.

Listening to President Obama eulogize him, my admiration was furthered by learning that the Senator had helped move forward around 1000 laws during his career, and had penned 300 of them himself. Prolific is a modifier that simply does not do justice to this great man.

God bless Edward M. Kennedy - may his soul rest with the greatest of men...