Rosemary Kennedy
Frequent commenter Karl (who would be a most satisfactory addition to the roll of bloggers) sent me this brief essay over the weekend. I read Amy Welborn's news item on her blog,
open book, where Karl also commented.
It would be boon for us to pray for the repose of the soul of Rosemary Kennedy -- until now the senior and perhaps the most travailed life of the fabled clan -- who has just died at the age of 86. As someone who grew up in a postwar household with what is now called a "special needs" child, I venture that Rosemary's life had more extraordinary influence to the good on the lives of ordinary Americans than of anyone else in her family: because it was her family's dealing with the consequences of the bungling of her situation that led them to come out of the closet about mental illness and champion all manner of special needs children. In the 1950s and 60s, the effect was electrifying for the many, many people like my parents and sibling; it truly made the world of difference. Catholic parents in particular began an extraordinary level of organizing and social action on this front, from what I can tell. Rosemary's life made a huge difference in this regard. May she finally join her mother and family in long-deserved peace.
# posted by Todd @ 1/10/2005 11:12:00 PM
