I'm one of those people who has always said that I don't begrudge anyone who has money. Most people have worked hard to get their money, and even if you don't always agree with how they got there, the fact that they got there is enough for me. I usually feel people are paid for what their worth; it always depends on who's doing the paying.

There's something that I've always thought was one of the greatest gestures of some rich people. That is seeing them decide to participate in the process of helping others, when they easily don't have to. Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy was one of those men. I've been a Kennedy supporter since I was a kid; then again, it was hard not to, especially with his two brothers. A super-rich family that decided to branch out into the business of helping others, through politics; I appreciate that. And, of course, taking up causes that, in the long run, have helped to benefit people like me,... nothing to hate there.

Last night on Facebook, someone wrote and asked what Kennedy had ever done for anyone. Nice, seeing that kind of hate on the day that someone passes away. Sometimes there just isn't any grace in the world. However, let's answer that question. Recognizing that senators are only as good as the bills they're actually allowed to have a hand in passing, and that their jobs preclude them from being able to pass a bill a day, here's a short list of some of Kennedy's handiwork, that he actually had a major hand in crafting the law for, then helping to get passed:

* Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
* National Cancer Act of 1971
* Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974
* COBRA Act of 1985
* Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986
* Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
* Ryan White AIDS Care Act in 1990
* Civil Rights Act of 1991
* Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
* Mental Health Parity Act in 1996 and 2008
* State Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997
* No Child Left Behind Act in 2002
* Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009

I have on VHS a recording of the live Kennedy speech at the 1988 Democratic Convention. It was one of his best, and every once in awhile, I'd pull that tape out and listen to it, as well as the Jesse Jackson speech from the same convention. Life isn't made of only speeches, but on that night, he caught my attention for real, and I've been a supporter ever since.

Not many people get to be a senator for more than 40 years; I don't think we'll be seeing many more of that type in the United States. Senator Edward Kennedy, thank you for your service and leadership; rest in peace.