Bobby Kennedy was assassinated on June 6, 1968. Much more has been written about the death of his older brother John F. Kennedy. But the death of Bobby, our once-and-future president, had even more impact on my generation than JFK’s. Why?
Many of us had just come of age and would be voting for the first time (the voting age had been lowered at the start of the 60s). Bobby’s assassination, just two months after our other hero Martin Luther King’s, was the unthinkable second in a two-strike attack on everything we cared about. Bobby had greater strength of character than his brother, and like Martin was a champion of civil rights.
It was the most divisive era of the 2oth Century. We were culpable in that division, of course. But we were also bent on fixing it. And no one had seemed as capable of carrying our candle as Bobby. So we mourned. Hard. We wanted social justice, and we wanted it now!
Were we right about everything? Of course not. Youth are idealistic and tend to want to fix the government so it can fix everything—and everyone—else. As we aged, we learned that human culture is not as simple as we want it to be—because humans aren’t as simple as we want them to be. But we did get some things right.
The current generations (Millennials and Gen Z) are coming into their own in the most divisive era of the 21st Century (so far). Yes, they’re culpable in that division, but they also want to fix it. They want social justice, and they want it now!
Are they right about everything? Of course not. But they care. Passionately. Perhaps the previous generations, Boomers and Gen X-ers, can come alongside theirs, yes, even the conservatives among us (I’m a radical moderate myself), and re-light our candle from theirs.
Who, if anyone, will be the new Bobby? I don’t know, but let’s not wait for him or her. Let’s work together to make things better…
Now!
“Radical moderate” 😏 reminds me of an old friend who described himself as “staunchly middle-of-the-road.” Yes, it’s interesting how similar our generations are, if we could bring ourselves to remember what it’s like to be young, idealistic, and impatient!
So true, Annie!
I afraid that the current state of American politics is such that even if there were a new Bobby Kennedy, he (or she) would never get elected. I desperately hope I’m wrong.
You know, I would have said you probably are right on the money, that idealism can’t get a job dishwashing for our lawmakers right now ~ but you should see some of the legislation this state has enacted on behalf of common sense human rights! Proud to be a citizen here now! Perhaps the opera’s not quite over ~ maybe the soprano sings at the eleventh hour and all the village church bells start peeling, yet!….
What state do you live in? I would love to see a positive sign!
I remember waking up the morning after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated and at first thinking the radio station was replaying stories from JFK’s assassination. It seemed unreal that it could be happening again to the Kennedy family, and so soon after Martin Luther King’s assassination. The 60’s were a difficult era of confrontations in the streets of our cities and often violent protests. Yet, in spite of it all, the country came together afterwards.
Mitch; you are so right. I remember Bobby Kennedy as the guy who embodied all of the positives of his brother with none (or very few) of the negatives. Remembering, of course, that Bobby was the Attorney General who OK’d the FBI wiretaps on King. I agree wholeheartedly that the current generation has an impressive passion for social justice that some of us old farts can learn from. Great, thoughtful, and challenging post. Thank you for your insights.
My privilege, Russell. And thanks for your additional thoughts, my friend.
I am decidedly liberal. By that I mean that while I can think of several areas where I would consider my opinions and preferences to be somewhat conservative, others have decided that I am a liberal because I won’t embrace or endorse their views and agendas which seem oppressively conformist to me. I’ve only thought of myself as someone who believes that everyone deserves equal rights and the freedom to express themselves and be themselves as long as that doesn’t hurt anyone or impinge on anyone else’s freedom to be who they are. I also believe that government exists to serve the people in ways that others are all too willing to label as Socialist.
Waking up to the news of Bobby Kennedy’s assassination on that bleak morning was the first time I ever felt utter despair and hopelessness about the future of our country. I have always been politically aware and an activist for justice and civil rights, and I have managed to gin up some enthusiasm and hope for some candidates since that time, but because of the assassination of Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy, something within me won’t let me get my hopes up too high any more.
I hear you, my friend.
I think you had the gift of clear sight. My mother, immigrant and avid believer in the great American dream, cried for days, literally.
I was in my freshman year of high school when both those amazing Leaders were shot just a couple of months apart. Such shock. It feels like yesterday. We didn’t give up the good fight and a lot of good has been done since then. I hope the brave citizens of Ukraine continue their determined fight for freedom, too. It seems impossible to overcome evil, but the arc of history DOES bend toward justice. God is love and truth, after all.
Bobby Kennedy came to our small town two days before his assassination.
Wow.
It’s refreshing to see his son running. Thanks, Mitch. God bless!
as of ’93
I remember that day … that moment … well. As I do his brother’s murder less than five years prior. You ask who will be the new Bobby … or MLK or John Lewis or Malcolm X … and the answer is … I don’t see anyone on the horizon who could fill those shoes, who even seems to want to step into those shoes and try them on for size. I hope I’m wrong.
My Aussie girlfriend lives in Texas and has done for some twenty years. Whenever she espouses social justice views that are normal to us, she gets shouted down as a card-carrying communist. It leaves she and I with the impression that in the US the prevailing approach to capitalism and trickle-down economics is more than willing to leave a large percentage of the population behind. Our system is far from perfect, and still many slip through the cracks – and boy, have we had our share of dud leaders – but we continue to be a democracy, and everyone is required to have their say (i.e. voting is compulsory).
Let’s hope that it is not just your younger generations who want to “fight” to reclaim your democracy –
But in the meantime, your post reminds me of sage words from the Luke Bryan song, Most People are Good:
“I believe that youth is spent well on the young
‘Cause wisdom in your teens
Would be a lot less fun
I believe if you just go by the nightly news
Your faith in all mankind
Would be the first thing you lose”
And in an aside, thank you for liking my skydiving post 🙂
My pleasure, Gwen!
There are some very worthy sentiments expressed here.
Thank you for sharing your insights into this!
My privilege, Damyanti.
Such a loss! Such a good man!
You’re so right….the time to come together, to find common ground, and to try to make things better is now. Too many of us are wasting time just slinging mud at the “other side,” whoever they happen to be in our world view. That accomplishes nothing but more division.
Amen, Ann!
Your beautiful tribute makes it possible to celebrate Misha, although I’ve never met her. What a remarkable creature. How painful to lose such a constant presence. Love to all of you.
Thank you so much, Stacey.