I'm curious about RFKJr not speaking at his mother's funeral.

[nolabear]

A whole lot of family is. And the former presidents and Madam Speaker. I haven’t seen him at all. It’s quite odd, really. I know they haven’t supported his run but is there a real rift?

[Ocelot II]

1. Is he even there?

[malaise]

27. Yes he is there - add link

Watch the second video
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19572529

[Think. Again.]

2. I heard he got distracted by a dead squirrel on his way there.

[Pink Hyacinth]

16. Never pass up good road kill n/t

[drray23]

3. Has not he been ostracized by the whole family ?

They might not want him to speak. He basically sullied his family's name and legacy.

[Jmb 4 Harris-Walz]

4. Definitely THIS!

His whole family is FURIOUS at the way he disrespected his parents political beliefs for fame and fortune. He is persona non grata there I’m sure.

[nolabear]

10. Boy, to be shunned at his mothers funeral would be beyond.

Maybe they don’t trust him to speak. I think the guy’s nuts but that’s harsh.

[nolabear]

5. It just doesn't seem very Kennedy to do that

Unless they don’t trust him not to get weird.

[Wounded Bear]

9. Yeah, I think he's a bit of a pariah around the Kennedy clan...

And I wouldn't be at all surprised if he is. He basically trashed his father's legacy.

[PatrickforB]

29. Ah, do I dare to eat a peach?

No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two,
Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use,
Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—
Almost, at times, the Fool.

I love the signature line!

[Wounded Bear]

31. Thanks, recently I have been mulling over what those few lines mean to me...

Haven't gotten to the Dylan Thomas phase yet. "Do no go gently into that good night..."

[hlthe2b]

6. He appears coming & going quite a bit with Cheryl Hines (hmm) in the video malaise posted.

Who knows "whose" choice it was that he not speak, but his family might well have pressured him not to divert attention from their mother.

[nolabear]

12. Oh good. At least he's there.

I really can’t stand the guy but I feel for anyone who’s lost a mother and might not be able to mourn with others.

[womanofthehills]

39. He did a tribute to his mom on Instagram

https://people.com/cheryl-hines-reacts-to-husband-rfk-jrs-tribute-to-late-ethel-kennedy-8727526

On one of his interviews, he said his mom sent all her kids away for the summers and they could pick where they wanted to go. I think he spoke of going to Africa and he was still young.

[malaise]

33. I think the family handled it very well

The oldest and youngest spoke - both female😀
And there was the lovely grand and great grand tributes.

[Quiet Em]

7. He trashed his mother in a book a few years ago.

He's such a creep.

[hlthe2b]

11. Yes... Growing up it would appear Ethel all but disowned him, so, I'd guess their relationship was never

what it might have been even decades later.

[malaise]

37. Having read a bit about Ethel

My guess is that she crossed those TS and dotted her is long before she died.

Our mum h ad a DNR so when some siblings thought they should prolong her suffering, her wishes were presented and that was that.
Funeral plans can also be paper tight with signatures.

[nolabear]

15. Damn. I didn't know that.

I’m pretty sure he’s diagnosable but that’s no reason to do that. Not unless there’s an egregious act. I see no evidence of that. She sounds like she brooked no bullshit. That might be enough to send him over. Ugh.

[Quiet Em]

21. Yeah, she was a tough, non nonsense type,

and he didn't like it.

[2naSalit]

8. He was there but...

He was not a pallbearer and I didn't see anyone talking to him. There was a mid-sized Toyota truck with a wooden bumper attached with bungee straps in the parking area, I'm guessing it might be his.

[nolabear]

13. *snerk*

Oh dear. They might not want him to know where she’s buried.

[2naSalit]

19. !!!

[ms liberty]

18. I just lol'd in the middle of a drs office waiting room.

[malaise]

34. 2naSalit will do that to you

😂😀😂

[mn9driver]

14. This happens in other families too.

Animosity between siblings can be pretty strong. I’m guessing that RFK Jr has been told to be a no-show by his surviving family.

[nolabear]

17. I know it happens but it's extreme.

And obviously noteworthy since I’m fascinated.

[onenote]

30. He wasn't a "no-show" -- he was there with his wife.

[malaise]

35. Look growing up with eight siblings

Is no easy situation let alone facing your teenaged years after your dad was murdered. Sure some handle crises better than others. He had my sympathy for a long time but he’s just another ambitious, arrogant asshole with more baggage than a hub airport carousel.

If he has one drop of sanity left, now would be a good time to ditch the CONvicted felon and say he had a rethink at his mother’s funeral.

[Solly Mack]

20. He has to play by Hyannis Port rules now. He knows that.

[nolabear]

22. Now Rory, another sister, is speaking.

I didn’t know Ethel was pregnant with her when Bobby was killed.

[GreenWave]

23. I sure hope he is not going to cart off her body.

Guard that area!

[nolabear]

24. Sister Kerry is speaking. She seems to have dysphonia too.

Not as much as Bobby Jr but clearly an issue.

[electric_blue68]

38. Their grandmother Rose had it.

[Paladin]

25. I'm in favor of RFK Jr. speaking as little as possible. (nt)

[louis-t]

26. I'm sure they banned him from speaking.

They feared he would show up dragging a dead goat.

[FakeNoose]

28. My guess is they asked him not to speak publicly

... but I'm sure the rest of the Kennedy family will be OK with him at any private viewings. It's the public ones where they have a problem with him.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

32. This was evidently a family decision

[Ilsa]

36. From my experience, only one or two family members speak

speak at a parent's funeral. Sometimes it is because the siblings know which son or daughter is going to melt into a puddle of tears. Sometimes it is because they don't trust what the sibling might say. Other times, it is a time issue. Most people don't want to sit through a ninety minute tribute. Funerals are hard enough. I think most of the laughing/crying reminiscing should be at a wake.

Maybe he didn't want to speak.