I was 5 years old when President Kennedy was assassinated. Like many people around my age, I grew up with a keen interest in the Kennedy family. The death of Sen. Edward Kennedy last week found me logging more time than usual in front of the television. I listened to the news programs review his life and his many accomplishments. Much time was spent discussing what made the senator such an effective legislator. One thing kept coming up over and over again: his sense of bipartisanship. The senator was masterful at forging relationships with Republican members. He worked with them to push important measures through the Senate.
I believe there is a perception that support for the environment is a Democratic issue. Protecting our natural resources is in the best interest of every American. It should not be politicized. Too much is at stake. We cannot allow progress in this area to be thwarted by squabbling between political parties.
Kennedy believed that you don't have to be president to make a difference. To follow that line of reasoning, you don't have to be a senator to make a difference either. At the most basic level, few things are required. We simply need to register to vote and exercise that privilege in elections both large and small. The next step is to communicate our views to those who represent us. Inpiduals are elected with the expectation that they will work on our behalf to pass legislation beneficial to all Americans. We need to remind them that a spirit of cooperation is essential to progress. “America the Beautiful” is depending on it.
