Remembering Bobby

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Robert F. Kennedy. Many parallels have been drawn this week regarding the similarities of the 1968 and 2008 presidential elections. Naturally, many have drawn comparisons between Bobby Kennedy and Barack Obama. Both stood at a crossroads in history, ready to create change and inspire a nation. We can only speculate what progress Bobby would have made and continue to hope for good things to come out of this election. While the comparisons will dominate the media (and have this week), let’s not forget the man whose life ended so abruptly 40 years ago today. 

Bobby Kennedy worked for social and economic justice for everyone. He was influential in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and stood by Dr. King in continuing the fight. He entered the 1968 presidential race on a platform of racial and social justice, peaceful foreign policy making, and the decentralization of government and power. He was revolutionary in his thinking, often upsetting establishment members of his own party. While imperfect too and often making mistakes, Kennedy advocated the type of change necessary to bring progress to the nation.  

There is no doubt that he had a lifetime of service to offer to this country.  And while the bullets brought down his body on June 6, 1968, his spirit continues to live on in the hearts and minds of Americans and citizens of the world. I have no doubt that he would want to see this country going in a much different direction today, and would be advocating for social change. In his memory, I leave you with my favorite RFK quote:

“Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital, quality for those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change.”