As we mourn Ted Kennedy, we should remember his brother's words

[derby378]

Sen. Kennedy was a staunch supporter of gun control, which is understandable considering the loss of his two brothers to assassins. His wife, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, once sat on the board of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

But the words of another Kennedy on gun issues should also be taken into account. John F. Kennedy made the following statement in the April 1960 issue of Guns Magazine, and I feel that these affirmations contain the same optimism and passion for our nation that could be found in Ted Kennedy's drive, albeit focused differently:

By calling attention to a well-regulated militia for the security of the Nation, and the right of each citizen to keep and bear arms, our founding fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy. Although it is extremely unlikely that the fear of governmental tyranny, which gave rise to the 2nd Amendment, will ever be a major danger to our Nation, the amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic civilian-military relationships in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of his country. For that reason I believe the 2nd Amendment will always be important.

[derby378]

1. Who unrec'ed the words of Uncle Jack?

I mean, sure, the man wasn't a saint, but I like to think that JFK was good people. Same goes for Ted, although he and I disagreed strongly on gun issues.

[iverglas]

2. exploiting the dead,

who have not been consulted on what they would say in the present circumstances about issues they never in fact addressed, is rather despicable.

[derby378]

3. Oh, come on...

If you were to quote a previous PM on healthcare issues with the belief that he'd support a current measure that he never addressed in his lifetime, by your own logic, that would also be exploiting the dead.

Pour yourself a glass of something refreshing and try to relax over the weekend.

[iverglas]

5. nah, we mostly don't give a shit what dead people said

up here. Or really, what anybody said or says. Seriously. The quoting of personnages is not something you see much among Canadians.

Quote one of the Fathers of Confederation in a debate and you'll be laughed at. Well, not entirely, since the entire confederation project -- different peoples, different cultures, different religions, maintaining their distinct identities within a federation -- is still regarded as the basis of modern Canada. But we don't lionize any individuals, or point to them as authorities for much of anything; it is the process and project -- in the case of Confederation for example, the negotiated arrangement between collective entities for peaceful and productive coexistence -- that is the substance.

On health care, Tommy Douglas would be the exception, since he started it. And since Tommy was a socialist who spoke his mind clearly and often, it would be hard to press him into service for any cause he would have disdained.

Really. The idea of quoting a previous prime minister to prove some point -- it would really just be preposterous to us.

[SlipperySlope]

6. Good to know you hold the knowledge of the past in disdain.

That must be useful when you want to live in ignorance.

[iverglas]

7. good to know you're still misrepresenting

Not worshipping mummified dead guys is not equivalent to holding the past in disdain or being ignorant of the past.

As you already knew, even without reading my post, in which the distinction was made quite clear.

You keep your graven images and parchments, I'll take my history, evolution and progress. Oh, and truth.

:puke:

[JonQ]

8. I guess no one can quote a person who has since passed

too bad, MLK, ghandi, Churchill and the rest had some interesting things to say. Oh well, they can't be consulted so we must strike there words from the record!

Also, I take it the grabbers will likewise refrain from using murder victims to promote their causes? Not very tasteful, exploiting the dead and all . . .

[friendly_iconoclast]

11. So, what of Cindy Sheehan?

Would you apply the same metric?

[iverglas]

13. is she dead?

I admit to not following her career ...

[Tejas]

18. No, just media-whoring via her son's death. n/m

[gunther]

17. Ted was 'Good People'?!

I mean, sure, the man wasn't a saint, but I like to think that JFK was good people. Same goes for Ted, although he and I disagreed strongly on gun issues.

He consistently attended the funerals of fallen soldiers.

Other than that, being a wealthy, influential, drunken lout with at least one negligent death to his credit does not add up to 'good people'.

[iverglas]

19. well, that about says it all

Not about Ted Kennedy, but about somebody.

[TheWraith]

20. Enjoy your stay. nt

[Paladin]

21. Posts Like Yours Used To Get Removed Immediately. Guess Things Have Changed.

How do the rest of you DU gun militants feel about what your pal Gunther said? Happy about it?

[Dogmudgeon]

4. So, what did JFK have to say about Michael Vick? Octomom? Archie marrying Veronica?

I'm pretty sure I know what JFK REALLY said about guns: "Ouch!"

:eyes:

--d!

[friendly_iconoclast]

10. You are a bad, bad, person for making me laugh.

[WheelWalker]

14. Archie married Veronica? I've got to get out more.

[michreject]

16. He married Edith

and begat Gloria, wife of Meathead.

[JonQ]

9. Right wing gun nut!

probably had a tiny penis and sexual fetish for guns too.

[proteus_lives]

12. Once again, JFK speaks the truth.

:thumbsup:

[Katya Mullethov]

15. " YOU DID WHAT ?!?!?!? "

followed by the immortal "For fuck's sake Teddy "