“Things do not happen. Things are made to happen” – John F. Kennedy
You don’t have to be an American to know the Kennedys, especially John F. Kennedy, commonly addressed by his initials JFK. John F. Kennedy hailed from arguably the most famous and influential family in the history of The United States of America. As much as the Kennedys are known for being leaders and pioneers at various forums, they are also known for their tragic deaths. In this article I’m going to discuss about the less famous (hidden in the shadows) Rosemary Kennedy.
The Life of Rosemary Kennedy:
Rosemary Kennedy was the third child of Joe and Rose Kennedy. She was the immediate younger sibling of JFK. Rosemary Kennedy was destined to see the light of the world during World War II, which means all the physicians were at the war camps tending the wounded soldiers. The delayed arrival of the physician forced the nurse (who was fully capable of delivering a child) to push Rosemary Kennedy back inside the birth canal and hold her inside for 2 hours. The insensitive decision of the nurse permanently slowed down Rosemary’s mental ability. Living in an era which considered mental illness and dark complexion as untouchables, Mr. Joe Kennedy raised Rosemary in isolation.
Adding to Mr. Joe Kennedy’s pride, prestige and prejudice, he was influenced by his son Joe Kennedy Jr.’s ideology, that people with mental illness are an ignominy to the human race; which was Hitler’s propaganda at that time. Parallel to his befouled ideology of people with mental illness, Mr. Joe Kennedy was introduced to Prefrontal Lobotomy; an experimental surgery which was developed as a corrective surgery for people with mental illness, high sexual desires, and criminals. Without any reservations and the consent of his family Mr. Joe Kennedy signed-in her daughter Rosemary Kennedy for the corrective experimental surgery which had absolutely minimal success rate. Unsurprisingly the surgery was unsuccessful and the result was tragic. Rosemary Kennedy regained her conscious in the state of a 2-year-old girl. The result of the surgery forced Mr. Joe Kennedy to put Rosemary in a rehabilitation centre, way out of the reach of any of his family members.
20 years later; John F. Kennedy, after being elected as the 35th President of The United States of America, used his influence to search and finally brought his sister Rosemary Kennedy back home. The Kennedy family couldn’t believe what Mr. Joe Kennedy had done to his own daughter at the cost of his prestige, pride and ego. The most affected siblings were John F. Kennedy and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. As a dedication to Rosemary Kennedy and in an attempt to make the world a safer place for the mentally ill; John F. Kennedy as a President passed several legislative bills on Mental Health awareness and funded research and programs for the disabled. Eunice Kennedy Shriver on the other hand funded research from the Kennedy Foundation, founded Shriver Camp: A Retreat Centre for disabled children and eventually created the Special Olympics.
Here and Now:
Rosemary Kennedy’s life was a tragedy, because her father Joe Kennedy couldn’t let go of his pride, prestigious lifestyle and the family reputation with the social circle.
It’s been 71yrs since the fateful event of Rosemary Kennedy, yet there are a lot of people whose ideologies resound with that of Mr. Joe Kennedy. Here are a few tenets to keep in mind.
- Honour life: Slow or inadequate mental processes doesn’t make that a person’s life is less significant than others in any manner. The value of life doesn’t change according to the performance of the respective individual.
- Accept your family the way they are: Even if your family functions differently they are your family. They are your responsibility, do not run away from them or disown them.
- Let go of your pride: You may be entitled to the most honourable position at work but nothing is as important as your family. Do not let your title and your attempt to guard your reputation demean the life of the people around you.
- Love Heals: The result of JFK and Eunice Kennedy’s LOVE towards their sister proved to be a healing agent which stands strong till date. Love them the way they are and it will heal them, as well as you.
- Mental Illness can be Treated: Many people have dedicated their lives to the wellbeing of mental health. They are educated and trained to treat mental illness. Help is available, do not hesitate to reach out.
Source: Rosemary Kennedy: The Tragic Story of Why JFK’s Sister Disappeared from Public View, ww2.kqed.org
By-
Anthony Aravind