Ted Kennedy, A Model of Leadership Resiliency

Regardless of what you think about Ted Kennedy's politics or how he managed his personal life, you have to admire his oratory and negotiation skills and how resilient he was.He held to his causes up to the end of his life. The lion's last roar was a plea to the governor for immediate replacement of his position so there could be the needed vote to push through his lifelong cause for national healthcare.

Let's face it, with half the deck of cards he was dealt, many of us would have folded let alone stand up against opposition to our causes every day.

Kennedy had to deal with the unimaginable traumas of witnessing two brothers murdered, carry the family pressure of holding the Kennedy torch in the political arena, amidst other family turmoil and tragedies, burying nephews and sisters along the way. He did embody his family's moral code - to much that is given, much is expected - spending his whole life lobbying for making the lives of those less fortunate better.Beyond "working for a fair and just America," what is truly remarkable is that, he won the respect of his staunchest opponents. Their sentiments are he is, "inspirational... irreplaceable..." As Joe Biden says, he "helped his foes be better people by looking at themselves and each other differently."

The skill of staying in the game and staying in dialogue with those who see the world very different than you, is one that we need now more than ever. With all the turmoil in the world, it is too easy to shut down and build walls. Our future depends on us all keeping the collective dialogue going.