Tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy
September 1, 2009
The notion of civic duty in a democratic polity must have taken its promptings from Pericles who held that the man who claims that politics is not his business in reality has no business.
The life of Senator Edward Kennedy embodied the truth of this Periclean notion. Three deaths in his family, suffered in the course of public duty, would have been sufficient inhibition to take a pass on destiny’s call to serve.
Instead Edward Kennedy derived strength from Hemingway’s view that life breaks everybody but afterwards, “many are strong at the broken places”. Edward Kennedy mined strength from the broken places, and despite human failings, proved resilient in answering the call of public service.
His record in the upper legislature of national politics in the United States was powerful testimony that the presidency of the nation was not the only vehicle for influencing the course of national history.
While Senator Kennedy will be remembered most for his decades long fight for social justice issues in the United States, Malaysians will not forget his equally fierce defense of marginalized and oppressed peoples around the world.
His opposition to the Vietnam War after witnessing, among other things the cruelty heaped upon civilian populations was admirable as was his opposition to the war in Iraq and ardent calls for the withdrawal of American troops.
I was personally touched by his vocal advocacy of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and castigation of those who hid behind the veil of constructive engagement to justify their continued involvement with an unjust regime.
Not only America but the world has lost a statesman of exceptional valour and commitment to the cause of peace and freedom. Senator Edward M. Kennedy was undoubtedly a great democrat, a true servant dedicated valiantly to the values of fairness and justice, and one of the most ardent advocates of human rights and democracy.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Malaysian Opposition Leader
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