We knew it was coming. Once there was a knighthood, could America's highest civilian honor be far behind? Indeed not: the White house announced today that Ted Kennedy, Lion of the Senate and driver extraordinaire, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In presenting the complete list of medal winners, the president said:
These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds. Their tremendous accomplishments span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way.
Their relentless devotion to breaking down barriers and lifting up their fellow citizens sets a standard to which we all should strive.
Some of the awardees have actually distinguished themselves by important work; others . . . maybe not so much.
But of Mr. Kennedy it can most assuredly be said that he has been "an agent of change" in his lifetime-and especially with respect to one Miss Mary Jo Kopechne, for whom he was "an agent of change" in the most essential way. Indeed, he "lifted up his fellow citizen"-right off Dike Bridge and into Chappaquiddick's Poucha Pond. And yes, it really was "an imperfect world" when he left her there to drown, but he successfully "improved it" by running away and not reporting the accident until the next day. And he did, with "relentless devotion," use every means at his disposal (and, being a Kennedy, they were legion), overcome the very "great obstacle" this event might have presented to his political career.
So bravo, Mr. President, for singling out such a deserving medalist, and bravo, Sir Dunksalot-you've earned it!
