I have no love for Ted Kennedy, and frankly have a hard time feeling more then general sorrow at his passing.  

Yet, I have to remember that political convictions aside, he was still a person: a person with family, friends and beliefs. 

I don’t care who he was, how liberal he was or what past sins continue to haunt his memory.

He died a lousy death.  Brain tumors are not fun.  His family watched him decline and suffer, and suffered with him.  They deserve a little respect.

So I am forcing myself to stifle the monster inside and extend my sincere regrets to his family.

In this, maybe Sarah Palin summarized it best on her FaceBook page:

On the Passing of Senator Ted Kennedy:

I would like to extend our sympathies to the Kennedy family as we hear word about the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy. He believed in our country and fought passionately for his convictions. -Sarah Palin and family

Short, sweet and classy.  Even Michelle Malkin, who bears him far more vitriol than I do, was subdued and respectful.

My thoughts are this:  No matter what we say, at the end of the day we should remember that we are all people.  We all have our convictions and we have our beliefs and we will always be divided on some issues.

But we also have our commonality, if we but take the time to find it.

Maybe this country wouldn’t be so messed up if all of us, on all sides of the various debates, could remember that.  I am guilty of this.  So are you and everyone else.

Just something to think about. 

RIP Sen Kennedy.