The Milk of Human Kindness: The Way Life is Supposed to Be
We get so caught up in our differences, that sometimes it is good to see that the milk of human kindness remains--even among the most bitter ideological foes--well, the milk of human kindness. That was my reaction to a column by very conservative, pro life columnist Robert Novak, just diagnosed with serious brain cancer. And who were big helpers of Novak in his time of need? The very liberal, pro choice political consultant, Bob Shrum, the very liberal, pro choice Senator Ted Kennedy (who also has brain cancer) and his wife Vicki, as well as the very liberal, pro choice columnist Al Hunt and his wife, reporter Judy Woodruff.
From Novak's column:
What greater gift can anyone give someone facing a life-threatening illness?My dear friend, the Democratic political operative Bob Shrum, asked Sen. Kennedy's wife, Vicki, to call me about Dr. Friedman. I barely know Mrs. Kennedy, but I have found her to be a warm and gracious person. I have had few good things to say about Teddy Kennedy since I first met him at the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, but he and his wife have treated me like a close friend. She was enthusiastic about Dr. Friedman and urged me to opt for surgery at Duke, which I did.
The Kennedys were not concerned by political and ideological differences when someone's life was at stake, recalling at least the myth of milder days in Washington. My long conversation with Vicki Kennedy filled me with hope.
Novak had surgery that removed a large cancer from his brain and received succor from his friends Hunt and Woodruff. And also from someone else. He continues:
Support for me and promises of prayers sent for me poured in from all sides, including political figures who had not been happy with my columns. I'm told that President George W. Bush has not liked my criticism, particularly of his Iraq war policy. But the president is a compassionate man, and he telephoned me at 7:24 a.m. on August 15, six minutes before I went into surgery. The conversation lasted only a minute, but his prayerful concern was touching and much appreciated.Yes. When illness or death strike, it is always heartening to see the hatchets buried and people acting with true compassion and love. Let's remember Novak's tale during the upcoming bitter campaign season.
Labels: Milk of Human Kindness.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 3:13 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
Amen! And as usual, well said.
Gd Stuff Wesley. Real good stuff. Among Mankind we really can empathize for each other and understand that even those who have different ideology to ours, are very important to their families. Any human that can look at the death of another human and not feel the pain that loss means within his circle of family & friends has devalued human worth. I remember a political foe of my father had serious Cancer complications when I was about 18 years old and dressed for our Fast ball play downs. It was about 6,pm and our game was scheduled for 7 pm. My buddy and I rushed him to the hospital about 20 miles away, along with his wife. We were stopped by the RCMP and they took one look at the guy and gave us a police escort to emergency ward.
I stayed with his wife till about two in the morning when we finally got word that he was out of the woods for awile as they had stabilized his present health issues. He died about a year later of hodgkins lymphoma complications. When I got home my mom & dad were thankful and concerned for the family who was dealing with that Cancer. They were very proud that I gave up my turn to be a hero at a ball game for the life of a man that was diametrically opposed to the political party that my dad represented .
When the man was in remission he and his wife made a special trip to my dad's house to thank me for the help I was to them in their time of need. I think such deeds are selfish on my behalf because the best joy any person can know is the joy of helping his fellow man in their hard times but it still was a pleasure to see how happy she was to have her husband survive for that little bit more time she had with him.
Unfortunately, the Plame/Wilsons were not so kind, as Novak's column shows. You may not have read this portion of his column, as it was cut from the NYT. The full column appears here: http://www.creators.com/opinion/robert-novak.html
"There are mad bloggers who profess to take delight in my distress, but there's no need to pay them attention in the face of such an outpouring of good will for me. I had thought 51 years of rough-and-tumble journalism in Washington made me more enemies than friends, but my recent experience suggests the opposite may be the case.
But Joe and Valerie Wilson, attempting to breathe life into the Valerie Plame "scandal," issued this statement: "We have long argued that responsible adults should take Novak's typewriter away. The time has arrived for them to also take away the keys to his Corvette."
Thanks to my tumor, the Wilsons have achieved half of their desires. I probably never will be able to drive again, and I have sold the Corvette, which I dearly loved. Taking away my typewriter, however, may require modification of the First Amendment......"
Michelina: First, I love your name. Second, thanks for stopping by.
I did see that part of the story but chose to ignore the cruelties of the small. I think the thrust is that for decent people, bitter differences can be put aside in times of personal difficulty.
When people attack and ignore the pain & suffering of others in their time of need they destroy the humanity within themselves. I have often viewed the pictures of Goebells and felt remorse that they had lost so much of their humanity that the whole family was destroyed because of their own choices.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magda_Goebbel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goebbels_children
Looking at that seemingly perfect family and knowing the hatred that burned within, I do feel great sorrow for what could have been.
Hatred is a destroyer that victimizes the purveyor and the target.
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