There was cause for jubilation at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California....
It was the beginning of summer in 1968, and the nation was in much turbulence. Viet Nam was taking its toll on America, claiming many innocent lives. Martin Luther King had encouraged Americans to "Believe in your Dreams", only to be shot and brutally murdered only a few months before. Riots had spread throughout the country in protest of various things including the federal government and its handling of current events.
Meanwhile, the President of the United States, Lyndon Johnson, announced he would not run for a 2nd term as President....the Viet Nam conflict had taken its toll on him....
Yet, in the midst of all this chaos John Kennedy's younger brother, Robert Kennedy, referred to as "Bobby" my many, had made the decision to run...to run for the office of President of the United States.
"Bobby", who now was a former Attorney General of the U.S., seemed prime and ready to pick-up where his older brother John had left off...John of course being assassinated less than 5 years before.
It was a difficult time to want to run for the office of President. The "hippie" movement was in full swing, "flowers were being passed to one another in San Francisco", and the "Hell's Angels" bike gang had gained national notoriety.
But, then there was "Bobby". He seemed to have a persona that gave people a sense of hope...an aura that caused us to think...unity was possible...right here!...in the U.S.A.
After all, "Bobby" was easy to like...just his smile which he often displayed had a warmth and gave you a secure feeling that this guy..."knew the way...the way out to find peace in the midst of turbulence."
"Bobby" had already captured the hearts of numerous Americans with his devotion and support to civil rights, and he had gained integrity and respect for his participation within the minority community as well as in the general public.
Now, "Bobby" had just won the great California Primary, and was the front runner for the Democratic Party....he was just getting primed and ready for the office...the Office of President of the United States of America.
Being in position to receive the Democratic nomination, "Bobby" began to focus on his opponent for this election... a Richard Millhouse Nixon of the Republican party, a seasoned veteran within political circles, and adamant in his agenda for the future of the U.S.
Then it happened...again
"Bobby" was leaving the rear exit of the Ambassador Hotel there in L.A. He was accompanied by a couple of well known athletes: Rafr Johnson and Roosevelt Grier.
There was this guy...he had a rolled up campaign poster in his hand...no one could see the .22 revolver hidden within the poster...several shots were fired.
5 people were wounded, the 2 athletes were able to wrestle this guy with the campaign poster to the ground....and "Bobby"...he was on the ground...3 shots had entered him...and he would not survive..."Bobby" passed the next day.
I remember the day it happened...I was 15 years old, hair down to my elbows, lovin' all the rock music of the day...the Doors, the Stones, and who couldn't like the Beatles.
I was coming off our back porch, I had just heard some of the gruesome reports coming in on 'Nam...and then it came..."Bobby" was shot and was possibly already dead.
I couldn't believe it...in some ways I still can't today. Not again....this "ain't" right....we can't let this go on....we can't keep killing our upcoming leaders!
They said the guy who shot "Bobby" was upset for "Bobby's" support of Israel....that gave him the right to shoot him? What is wrong with us?
As I walked outside in confusion, a girl down the street came running toward me..crying...they had just got word about her brother...in Viet Nam........
At the time of "Bobby's" death, he had 10 children...with an 11th one on the way.
Here are but a few of "Bobby" Kennedy's encouraging words during that troublesome era:
" Only those who dare to fail greatly...can ever achieve greatly."
" There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask...why? I dream of things that never were, and ask...why not?"
" Let's dedicate ourselves to what the ancient Greeks wrote so many years ago, to tame the savageness of man and make this a more gentle world, let us dedicate ourselves to that."
"Fear not the Path of Truth...for the lack of people walking on it."
"I believe as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil."
In the Gospel of St. John, Jesus announces the highest expression of love that can be given. Love does have a finality to it...and demonstrates itself by this action:
John 15:13 "Man cannot express his love in any greater way than this, that he should lay down his life for his friends (country)."
In this case, America and her people....these were "Bobby's" friends.
It was the beginning of summer in 1968, and the nation was in much turbulence. Viet Nam was taking its toll on America, claiming many innocent lives. Martin Luther King had encouraged Americans to "Believe in your Dreams", only to be shot and brutally murdered only a few months before. Riots had spread throughout the country in protest of various things including the federal government and its handling of current events.
Meanwhile, the President of the United States, Lyndon Johnson, announced he would not run for a 2nd term as President....the Viet Nam conflict had taken its toll on him....
Yet, in the midst of all this chaos John Kennedy's younger brother, Robert Kennedy, referred to as "Bobby" my many, had made the decision to run...to run for the office of President of the United States.
"Bobby", who now was a former Attorney General of the U.S., seemed prime and ready to pick-up where his older brother John had left off...John of course being assassinated less than 5 years before.
It was a difficult time to want to run for the office of President. The "hippie" movement was in full swing, "flowers were being passed to one another in San Francisco", and the "Hell's Angels" bike gang had gained national notoriety.
But, then there was "Bobby". He seemed to have a persona that gave people a sense of hope...an aura that caused us to think...unity was possible...right here!...in the U.S.A.
After all, "Bobby" was easy to like...just his smile which he often displayed had a warmth and gave you a secure feeling that this guy..."knew the way...the way out to find peace in the midst of turbulence."
"Bobby" had already captured the hearts of numerous Americans with his devotion and support to civil rights, and he had gained integrity and respect for his participation within the minority community as well as in the general public.
Now, "Bobby" had just won the great California Primary, and was the front runner for the Democratic Party....he was just getting primed and ready for the office...the Office of President of the United States of America.
Being in position to receive the Democratic nomination, "Bobby" began to focus on his opponent for this election... a Richard Millhouse Nixon of the Republican party, a seasoned veteran within political circles, and adamant in his agenda for the future of the U.S.
Then it happened...again
"Bobby" was leaving the rear exit of the Ambassador Hotel there in L.A. He was accompanied by a couple of well known athletes: Rafr Johnson and Roosevelt Grier.
There was this guy...he had a rolled up campaign poster in his hand...no one could see the .22 revolver hidden within the poster...several shots were fired.
5 people were wounded, the 2 athletes were able to wrestle this guy with the campaign poster to the ground....and "Bobby"...he was on the ground...3 shots had entered him...and he would not survive..."Bobby" passed the next day.
I remember the day it happened...I was 15 years old, hair down to my elbows, lovin' all the rock music of the day...the Doors, the Stones, and who couldn't like the Beatles.
I was coming off our back porch, I had just heard some of the gruesome reports coming in on 'Nam...and then it came..."Bobby" was shot and was possibly already dead.
I couldn't believe it...in some ways I still can't today. Not again....this "ain't" right....we can't let this go on....we can't keep killing our upcoming leaders!
They said the guy who shot "Bobby" was upset for "Bobby's" support of Israel....that gave him the right to shoot him? What is wrong with us?
As I walked outside in confusion, a girl down the street came running toward me..crying...they had just got word about her brother...in Viet Nam........
At the time of "Bobby's" death, he had 10 children...with an 11th one on the way.
Here are but a few of "Bobby" Kennedy's encouraging words during that troublesome era:
" Only those who dare to fail greatly...can ever achieve greatly."
" There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask...why? I dream of things that never were, and ask...why not?"
" Let's dedicate ourselves to what the ancient Greeks wrote so many years ago, to tame the savageness of man and make this a more gentle world, let us dedicate ourselves to that."
"Fear not the Path of Truth...for the lack of people walking on it."
"I believe as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil."
In the Gospel of St. John, Jesus announces the highest expression of love that can be given. Love does have a finality to it...and demonstrates itself by this action:
John 15:13 "Man cannot express his love in any greater way than this, that he should lay down his life for his friends (country)."
In this case, America and her people....these were "Bobby's" friends.
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