Whenever I hear about something Sen. Kerry has done that I know was driven by true compassion, I think about the late Dr. Hunter Thompson's quote, describing JK as "a good man with a brave heart". Some people are just that way. They do the things they do, work the jobs they work, live the lives they live, out of a sense of duty and just because they know they have no choice but to do the right thing.
Cynics may try to rationalize these acts of human kindness, but if you're lucky enough to know someone, perhaps even be someone, whose heart won't allow you to witness suffering without acting to try to ease it, you know that the cynics just don't get it.
But we do, and so do the brothers and the families of those who gave their lives for our security. In this 2004 video, they tell the story of loss and sacrifice and compassion.
The firefighters of Local 1009 did not forget that Senator Kerry was there for them after six of their brothers died in the 1999 Worcester fire. Neither did Senator Kerry forget the sacrifice of these brave men, as he remembered them at the beginning of his 2004 speech to the International Association of Fire Fighters Convention. Many of us remember that speech as one in which he defended his service against the vile and ugly lies of the Swiftboaters. Which he did. Because it was the right thing to do. Here's a link to that portion of the speech:
MSNBC Video
But before he did that, he paid tribute to a band of brothers who fought and died here at home, protecting the citizens of Worcester, Mass. These were the heroes, the fire fighters, who did their jobs and lived their lives, and ultimately gave their lives, just because they, too, knew that it was the right thing to do. They, too, are what's right about this country.
"I’d also like to remember the brothers of Local 1009. It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since that warehouse in Worcester went up in flames. Six brave men went in. None of them came out alive. And as I stood with those families, I looked them in the eyes, and promised that their brothers, fathers, sons and husbands would never be forgotten. And I know they haven’t been."
Comments (3)
Posted by Kerryvisionary | August 16, 2007 9:33 AM
Thank you so much for this post, KerryVision Team. I never saw that 2004 video, and it is very, very moving, because I remember the horror of hearing about the Worcester fire in 1999. I'm not at all surprised by JK's compassionate conduct and that he stopped his plans for his overseas trip and went directly to the scene, but it's still nice to know about it and to see him standing with the survivors and comforting the families.
Well-written post and thanks for speech transcript, too!
Posted by wisteria | August 17, 2007 1:45 AM
I had never heard the complete details about this tragic fire or the respect and dedication Senator Kerry showed in honoring all of these men. These brave men- from fire fighters to Senator Kerry- are indeed what is "right about this country".
Thank you Kerryvision team for this moving post.
Posted by mbk | August 17, 2007 10:14 AM
Oh, this is very moving. He is indeed all that's right about this country. That's it in a nutshell.