Continuously rewarded since November ‘62
Writing by treason on Tuesday, 24 of July , 2007 at 10:09 pm
“Vice is its own reward.”
– Quentin Crisp, founding member of the Chappaquiddick Society
The anniversary of Mary Jo Kopechne’s death by slow suffocation came and went last week without much fanfare. She was, as Senator Edward Kennedy described her in his address to the people of Massachusetts, a “gentle, kind, and idealistic person.” And then he carefully explained that, despite rumors of “immoral conduct,” he did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Kopechne.
“It has been written a man does what he must in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles, and dangers, and pressures, and that is the basis of human morality. Whatever may be the sacrifices he faces, if he follows his conscience — the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow man — each man must decide for himself the course he will follow. The stories of the past courage cannot supply courage itself. For this, each man must look into his own soul.”
– Edward M. Kennedy, July 25, 1969
It’s interesting that Quentin Crisp was associated with the Chappaquiddick Society, a group that routinely awards individuals with something they like to call the “Profile in Cowardice.” No, not a profile in courage – that was associated with another Kennedy. But, like degrees of separation, one doesn’t have to go very far to find connections within the Society. For instance, there’s a Memorial Gallery on the Chappaquiddick Society website and its members include a Miss Norma Jean Baker, a Miss Martha Moxley, and that “gentle, kind, and idealistic” Miss Kopechne. Why it’s interesting that Mr. Crisp is associated with this group is that he, to many, was the modern version of Oscar Wilde – that brilliant, witty flamboyant who wrote a modest little book about someone named Gray.
Strangely, the incident that took place almost 40 years ago, just off the island’s wooden bridge, did not keep the voters of Massachusetts from returning its Senator to office… repeatedly.
“It has been seven years since my first election to the Senate. You and I share many memories — some of them have been glorious, some have been very sad. The opportunity to work with you and serve Massachusetts has made my life worthwhile.
And so I ask you tonight, the people of Massachusetts, to think this through with me. In facing this decision, I seek your advice and opinion. In making it, I seek your prayers — for this is a decision that I will have finally to make on my own…
I pray that I can have the courage to make the right decision. Whatever is decided and whatever the future holds for me, I hope that I shall have been able to put this most recent tragedy behind me and make some further contribution to our state and mankind, whether it be in public or private life.”
A minor driving error. No biggie.
It’s been a few years, but I recall what it was like on the roads in and around Boston: whenever we’d get on the Mass Pike I’d put my hands over my eyes. No, I wasn’t behind the wheel at the time. Personally, if I were a passenger in that part of New England, I think I’d prefer to curl up in a crate and be strapped to the roof of a station wagon with Mitt Romney at the wheel rather than sit right beside Ted Kennedy in his Oldsmobile.
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