Check out the first paragraph of this AP “news report“:
President John F. Kennedy’s aide and speechwriter, Theodore C. Sorensen, a symbol of hope and liberal governance, died at a time of contempt for Washington and political leaders.
Sorenson had been sick for years, (“a stroke in 2001 left him with such poor eyesight that he was unable to write his memoir”), and yet the AP seems to be reading magical revelatory timing into his death.
But it might be that they’re simply resorting to irony. After all, these are people who are quick to criticize “superstition” in any of its forms, so they would never resort to religious or magical thinking in an obituary, would they?
Horrifying as the thought may seem, it strikes me as inevitable that sooner or later, most of us will die during one “time of contempt for Washington and political leaders” or another. But it depends on who’s in contempt of whom, and who’s raising the questions, doesn’t it?
Looking at the big picture, I think it might be better to die during a time of contempt than a time of respect.
But I don’t know yet, as I haven’t died.
Comments
2 responses to “AP begs questions raised”
When I was a kid I worked for one of Ted’s cousins who was in the juke box, vending machine, pinball machine business.
I always thought Ted was one of the great American speech writers.
“… died just in time to save half his accumulated wealth from going to Washington and political leaders.”
there. fixed.