Lieutenant Firefighter Edward J Walsh and Firefighter Michael R Kennedy: May God embrace you for your consummate selflessness. May God embrace you for loving your neighbors so truly–so genuinely–that you were willing to sacrifice your physical beings for their safety.
Lieutenant Walsh and Firefighter Kennedy made a sacrifice that we refer to as “the ultimate sacrifice.” Upon reflection of the phrase “ultimate sacrifice”, multiple virtues are conjured up: valor; courage; duty and devotion; heroism; selflessness. But Walsh and Kennedy’s sacrifice–the sacrifice of their physical beings–is ultimately an act of love. The sacrifice of one’s life to protect the life of another is the most supreme act of love.
Thus, Lieutenant Firefighter Walsh and Firefighter Kennedy, left this world with love in their hearts. There is no doubt that their immortal souls are now in God’s serene embrace. They loved their neighbors, and demonstrated their love by putting their lives on the line on a daily basis in order to protect them. Walsh and Kennedy lived in accordance with Christianity’s Greatest Commandment: “Love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than this.” Therefore, there is no doubt as to the current heavenly state of their immortal souls. In this state, they await to be reunited with grieving loved ones.
We must be ever-mindful that their loved ones also made numerous sacrifices: Every time Walsh and Kennedy left home to go to the firehouse, the Walsh and Kennedy families sacrificed their peace of mind. Despite their worriment, they supported Walsh and Kennedy’s calling to protect the city and its inhabitants. Their unwavering support of their firefighter, and their willingness to sacrifice their peace of mind for the safety and protection of the people of Boston, demonstrates their love of neighbor. Moreover, we must recognize that the relatives, friends, and girlfriends (Kennedy had planned to propose to his girlfriend on May 11–Lilac Sunday) that surrounded Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Kennedy had a tremendous influence on the type of men they were: heroes–men willing to sacrifice everything for their fellow man.
In a society in which selfishness is rampant–a society in which selfishness is hailed as a virtue by some–the selflessness of Kennedy and Walsh has given people faith in the human race again. Their sacrifice–their ultimate sacrifice–is a testament to the goodness of humanity. There are still those who choose selflessness over selfishness. There are those who measure success not by assessing all the material goods and money one possesses, but by assessing the virtues of goodness one possesses. There are still heroes out there. There are still virtuous people out there. There are still people who truly love their fellow man. Lieutenant Firefighter Walsh and Firefighter Kennedy, confirm that such people still exist. Not only did they save lives, but they also renewed our faith in the human race. Lieutenant Firefighter Walsh, Firefighter Kennedy, you will never be forgotten.
The New American Progressive
I grew up in the Old Harbor Housing Development in the Irish American neighborhood of South Boston. Currently, Southie has gained fame for being the home of gangsters, powerful politicians, and as the toughest inner city neighborhood in America. It is the home of Speaker of the House McCormick; but it’s the home of three housing projects as well. It’s the home of Senate President Bulger; but it’s also the home of Jimmy “Whitey” Bulger—the most infamous gangster of our generation.
I survived the streets of South Boston by learning to defend myself in a boxing gym with national champions and professional boxers. I still box to this day. I also am very blessed to come from a family that values education and demands top academic performance. Out of my Irish grandmother, who has her high school diploma, she had a daughter that put herself through nursing school as a single mom (my mother); out of four grandchildren, I went to Boston College High School founded in 1864 by the Jesuits as Boston College, and the girls went to Fontbonne Academy. Both are college preparatory schools run by the Jesuits and the Sisters of Saint Joseph, respectively. These Catholic orders inculcate their students with the belief that we are meant to be of service to others. Three of the four have Bachelors Degrees. One has a graduate degree, and I am a graduate degree candidate at Suffolk University in marketing. My BA is in political science.
I ran a multiplicity of Boston campaigns. I managed campaigns and was field coordinator. However, as field coordinator, my role was that of a campaign manager. I developed the theme, message, and strategy. The candidate and I start off with a SWOT analysis, and go from their. It requires tremendous trust for a public official to put her reputation in your hands, to trust you with their deepest, darkest secrets, and to develop a working relationship, so that the candidate does not need to be a campaign manager. Not all candidates are political scientists who grew up in politics and knew that campaigning was one of their callings.
I remember taking on a campaign managing role in one of my campaigns en medias res, and it was a campaign manager’s worst nightmare: I had an articulate, courageous, progressive candidate from a great Latino family, including a father who was a Boston Public School teacher. However, he knew not how to campaign. I proudly took over that campaign. That candidate went on to serve as the Boston Coordinator for Kennedy’s U.S. Senate bid.
I ran a presidential campaign for a labor union, and I needed to utilize my Southie street smarts to come out with the win.
I worked for the Obama ‘08 Campaign as a co-founder of South Boston for Obama. I then worked for him for a year in NH, where I got to meet and speak with him.
I served in two branches of government. I worked for the Committee for Public Counsel Services (public defenders), and, as an Adams, who going all the way back to John Adams, believed that the keystone to free society was fair and proper representation under the law for all people, no matter the court of public opinion.
I also worked in the legislative branch for a statesman named Senator Hart. I did constituent service work, which was so rewarding. I got to give back to a community that gave me the opportunity to achieve my dreams and goals.
As an undergraduate at Suffolk University where I served as the President of the Pre-Law Association and graduated with a 3.4 GPA, I was honored to be given a scholarship to study the effects of fascism and communism on Central Europe after writing a paper about my own family’s tragic experiences in Poland during Nazi occupation. I completed an independent study with a brilliant political scientist, Kenneth Cosgrove, PhD., author of Branded Conservatives, opened my eyes up to the ways in which conservatives successfully utilize modern marketing techniques to win elections. They shifted the country to the right with their use of marketing strategies.
I am currently an MSM (Masters in Science in Marketing) candidate at Suffolk University. I am proficient with Wordpress and Squarespace; Google Analytics; social media advertising campaigns; and other forms of marketing like STP (Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning).
This site will be the home of my new blog that will discuss politics and marketing.
I hope my life experience and my education in these fields creates a healthy dialogue that can lead to higher truths.
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