A Dream (Not) Deferred

My deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences go to the Kennedy family during this time of tremendous loss. Sen. Kennedy's extraordinary contributions to American society not only defined a generation but will remain the impetus for a greater visionary spirit for generations to come.

Whatever your political sway, Sen. Kennedy was not afraid to dream and to pursue the dream fervently until it materialized. To proclaim his dream was his opportunity to bring you along on an eye-opening journey into your own dreams. And as I type this message, I am reminded that even in his death he continues to do so.

Like Kennedy and so many others, my father had a dream. His dream brought him across the Atlantic Ocean from West Africa in search of a brighter and more prosperous future for himself, his wife (my mother) and their future family. He taught me and my siblings the merits of dreaming big and planning for success. As kids, we did not always realize the significance of his instruction, sometimes believing that as long as "daddy" was around our dreams could happen.

So when, in the middle of a winter night, he passed away suddenly those very dreams appeared on the verge of dying. Once the shock had subsided the questions came: how will we go on, what will we do, what about our dreams? If I knew then, what I know now... In all that he did, my father laid the groundwork for our futures, he nurtured our ideas and gave us the framework by which to live and to help our fellow man. Somehow, without us even knowing it, we had adopted his ethos and the dream lives on.

So it is with Sen. Kennedy. He laid the groundwork; he nurtured our greatest hopes for a prosperous, industrious society. And most importantly, he showed us that this dream was also our own. So how will his death affect health-care reform? Experience tells me that there are enough people in this nation who believe in the dream, who have made the dream their own and will carry out the dream to completion. This is not a dream deferred; it will be a dream materialized. It is for an appointed time and though it may tarry, it will come.

By Chisara N. Asomugha  |  August 26, 2009; 2:25 PM ET  | Category:  Health Care Reform
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