A Brief by Doug Draper
The Kennedy curse is a phrase that evolved in the wake of the assassinations of the late President John F. Kennedy and his brother Bobby two decades after the death of their older brother Joe in the Second World War, and so many of the other tragedies that have haunted this iconic American family since.
Kara Kennedy Allen gone at 51
The latest is the untimely death this September 15 of 51-year-old Kara Kennedy Allen, the only daughter of the late Senator Ted Kennedy who met his end two years ago this past August following a brave battle with brave battle with brain cancer. Kara, who looked like she has won her battle with a lung cancer she was diagnosed with in 2002, reportedly died from a heart attack.
My family and I were on one of our many visits to Cape Cod two summers ago when we heard the news of Ted Kennedy’s death. Knowing most of the back roads on the Cape like the back of my hand, we were able to get around the police barricades on the roads to the neighbourhood where the Kennedy compound is located.
We joined about a 100 others in being the first of countless thousands to pay our respects as the funeral procession left the compound for a trip to Boston and, finally, the Arlington cemetery outside of Washington, D.C.
I wondered as we waited along the street outside of the compound if we weren’t being intrusive until the procession began and there was Kara in a limousine following the hearse with the window down and waving to us and saying; ‘Thank you for being here.’ And now she’s gone.
It is hard for me to think about this amazing family without also thinking that you can have all of the money and fame one could ever hope to have in the world and it won’t stop tragedy from knocking at the door.
Maybe there is a lesson in that for everyone who sees fame and fortune as a ticket to utopia.
(You can share your views in the comment boxes below.).
Niagara At Large 
An Eleanor Mondale, daughter of Walter Mondale, died the same day and at the same age as Kara. Eleanor died of brain cancer after a long battle with the disease. Sad news. We watched these two grow up under the shadows of their fathers, but they each carved out a place for themselves.
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All families have tragedies in their lives, only if you’re wealthy are the tragedies referred to as “a curse”. Remember, there are a lot of Kennedys, so there are many births, and deaths.
Sad Kara Kennedy died at 51, I hope she had a good life.
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One thing we know for sure is that “Life is a Mystery”.
For instance recently during the Republican Candidate’s Debates the moderator asked a candidate, “What happens when someone doesn’t have health insurance even if they could afford it, but didn’t buy it as they spent their money on other things…….what happens if that person becomes seriously ill…….should we just let him die?” And some in the crowd hollered, Yes!” These are the very people that are Pro Life…..Evangelicals that believe life is sacred.
Would someone please try to explain the rationale behind this thinking.
We need universal health care……period.
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“There but for the grace of God go I”. Not having universal health care means we value some people (usually those with money), more than others.
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