Kennedy Curse

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The Kennedy Curse refers to a series of unfortunate events that have happened to the Kennedy family. While these events could have happened to any family, some have referred to the continual misfortune of the Kennedy family as a curse. The improbability of so many repeated instances of misfortune within one family, especially two high-profile political assassinations, has raised questions as to whether the curse results from sheer bad luck or from coordinated violence against the Kennedy family.

There are several theories regarding the origin of the "curse". Most pertain to Joe Kennedy's anti-semitism, his role in the Holocaust, and his attempt to silence Jews from praying on Rosh Hashannah.

Critics of the Curse theory argue that given the sheer size of the family, the number of unfortunate events is not unusual. The "curse" may be seen less as a supernatural phenomenon than simply as an operation of the laws of probability. Moreover, while tragic events occur to a lesser or greater extent in all families, they make headline news when they involve a famous clan. It could also be argued that the Kennedys, owing to their relative wealth, have a lifestyle that is quite different from that of average persons -- most people, for example, do not pilot or fly in private planes -- and consequently they are more often in greater physical danger.

Contents

[edit] Chronology

Believers in the "curse" generally cite the following core events as evidence of the family's misfortunes:

[edit] Secondary events

Despite being in the news, these events are not considered to be part of the "curse" by all believers.

[edit] Refutations of The "Cursed"

Some skeptics follow the belief that the Kennedy curse is to some extent a self-fulfilling prophecy where the actions of the family members enhance their risk for tragic events. A few refutations of the "cursed" events:

  • 1941 - Rosemary Kennedy underwent a surgery that was non-standard and still in its experimental stages.
  • 1944 - Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. volunteered for a special mission piloting a plane loaded with explosives.
  • 1948 - Kathleen Kennedy Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington, flew in weather that initially caused the pilot to refuse to fly.
  • 1961 - Joseph P. Kennedy was 73 years old; not an uncommon age for a stroke, especially in 1961.
  • 1969 - "Chappaquiddick Incident" - Ted Kennedy may have been driving drunk.
  • 1983 - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. had illegal drugs in his car and thus brought about his own arrest.
  • 1984 - David A. Kennedy was a recreational narcotics user and thus brought about his own death.
  • 1986 - Patrick J. Kennedy was a recreational narcotics user, and thus brought about his own addiction.
  • 1988 - Christina Onassis was not a Kennedy.
  • 1997 - Michael Kennedy was playing ski football without proper safety equipment.
  • 1999 - John F. Kennedy, Jr. was described by experts as a relatively inexperienced pilot, taking his plane into a situation with poor visibility.
  • 2002 - Michael Skakel isn't a Kennedy by blood or law.
  • 2006 - Patrick J. Kennedy suffered no physical injuries after the crash and was able to put the incident in a positive light, affirming publicly his resolve to get help for his substance abuse problems.

[edit] See also

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