Senator Ted Kennedy

With the passing of Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy, this country has lost one its giants.

Below is an e-mail from President Obama about Senator Kennedy that I received tonight. It eloquently articulates the significance of this great man for all the citizens of this country.

Louis -- Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy. For nearly five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts. His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives -- in seniors who know new dignity; in families that know new opportunity; in children who know education's promise; and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just, including me. In the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth and good cheer. He battled passionately on the Senate floor for the causes that he held dear, and yet still maintained warm friendships across party lines. And that's one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy. I personally valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've benefited as President from his encouragement and wisdom. His fight gave us the opportunity we were denied when his brothers John and Robert were taken from us: the blessing of time to say thank you and goodbye. The outpouring of love, gratitude and fond memories to which we've all borne witness is a testament to the way this singular figure in American history touched so many lives. For America, he was a defender of a dream. For his family, he was a guardian. Our hearts and prayers go out to them today -- to his wonderful wife, Vicki, his children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family. Today, our country mourns. We say goodbye to a friend and a true leader who challenged us all to live out our noblest values. And we give thanks for his memory, which inspires us still. Sincerely, President Barack Obama


(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

OBAMA'S first 100 days as President

Anyone to whom it hasn't been obvious that Obama has been proven an outstanding President is still blinded by the debris left behind by the catastrophic Bush Administration.

The call I made for prosecutions in my January 17, 2009 Post, has become widespread and more insistent. The destruction of the US Constitution and traditional US values, the contravention of the Geneva Conventions and of common human rights and decency were too egregious to be swept under the carpet.

Convergence, not Pax Americana

A remarkable picture, from a satellite streaking at 17,000 mph, 423 miles above Barack Obama’s Inauguration, clearly shows countless people clustered on the Mall in Washington D.C. observing the historic proceedings.

We have become used to seeing grand man-made structures from space. Until this photo, we had not seen man himself from that new frontier. Individually, he is too small, too visually insignificant to be seen from such a lofty perspective. Now, the power of people, converged into masses of thousands, united in a single purpose, focussed in the same direction, becomes palpably evident.

Barack Obama is at the center of that convergence. He is an embodiment of ethnic and cultural convergence.

(Photo by Maya Soetoro-Ng Published in the New York Times
President Obama hugged his half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, at her December 2003 wedding to Konrad Ng, third from right, in Hawaii. From left, his daughters, Sasha and Malia; his grandmother Madelyne Dunham, seated; Konrad’s parents, Joan and Howard Ng, and brother Perry Ng; and Michelle Obama)

His message is one of convergence. His political manifesto emphasizes convergence. His inaugural speech stressed that theme.

He assumes the Presidency at a time when the major thrust of technology is towards convergence. Witness the dominance of smart phones and networked computers, cameras and other peripherals that are designed for the convergence of several functions and ideas. That satellite photo of the crowds on the Mall represents the first time NASA released such a picture, to link their technology with that of the news media for enhanced coverage of a live event.

Globalization has represented an attempt at convergence, but its scope has been limited to commercial enterprises.

Now the world’s attention is turning to political and cultural convergence. The European Union is one result.

Nations, races, religions have often talked about and fought over, domination, cooperation and acceptance, but have always feared assimilation, or the concept of a “melting pot” and have not been comfortable with the idea of plurality.

Perhaps under leadership such as Obama’s we are finally going to come up with a new, successful paradigm for peaceful coexistence (remember that ‘60’s term?), cooperation and productivity. I think the concept of convergence will be paramount in the new order.