Intelligencer

How Kerry Got His Name

WE know by now that Senator John Kerry is not of Irish ancestry, but nonetheless there are some intriguing Irish–related elements in his background. Kerry’s grandfather was a Czech Jew named Fritz Kohn who wanted to escape anti-Semitic prosecution in his homeland and come to America.

A genealogist hired by The Boston Globe confirmed that Kerry’s grandfather was originally Fritz Kohn, of Jewish descent, a discovery that surprised Kerry, who had suspected only that his grandmother might have been Jewish. They emigrated to the U.S. in 1905.

Kohn and his wife Ida Lowe also wanted to ensure that they did not face any anti-Jewish sentiment in America so they decided to change their name and become Catholic.

How did they accomplish that? According to the Boston Globe Fritz Kohn dropped a pencil on a map of Europe and stated that he would take as his last name wherever the pencil landed.

Purely by chance it was Co. Kerry, Ireland and from then on Fritz Kohn and his wife used the last name Kerry. Now just imagine if the pencil had landed next door in Cork or Clare we might be talking about Senator John Cork or Senator Clare – what an interesting thought!

Forbes and the Famine

THE Forbes name in Kerry’s full title also has an intriguing Irish angle. The Forbeses were one of the oldest blueblood families in Boston who were also well known for their charity and philanthropy.

Appalled by what they read about the Irish famine and the thousands sick and dying landing on their shores, the Forbeses dispatched the first two relief ships to leave America for Ireland.

The two ships landed in Ireland and saved hundreds of lives with their cargoes.

The family is not related to that of Steve Forbes, the publisher of Forbes magazine who can trace some Irish heritage, but given their extraordinary act of kindness during the famine they surely deserve honorary Irish recognition.

Kerry’s Vote on Irish Issues

THERE has been much speculation about Kerry’s role on Irish issues during his 35 years in public office. 

Understandably, much of his record consists of a “me too” philosophy, given the fact that his senior senate colleague, Senator Ted Kennedy, is very much the leader on the issue in Congress. Kerry pretty much signed on to anything that Kennedy had approved.

On one crucial occasion, however, Kerry did make a significant difference. During a key phase of the battle to win Gerry Adams a visa back in 1994, an urgent letter was required from members of Congress to impress on President Clinton how important the visa was in helping the Irish peace effort.

It all happened over a weekend so there was little opportunity to get a major list. In fact five key senators, Kerry among them, agreed to sign the letter at a moment’s notice. It was a major breakthrough in the visa battle.

Young Catholics A Key Vote

A RECENT Newsweek poll on voting attitudes for the presidential election reached some very interesting conclusions. Among the more intriguing was the news that young voters under 30, preferred President George W. Bush to his Democratic opponents more than any other age group.

As Newsweek stated, however, that is not the only notable conclusion. “Another interesting trend uncovered by the poll is the apparent liberalism of young Catholics,” the magazine wrote.

Newsweek pointed out that while the Catholic church has “reiterated its condemnations of both abortion and homosexuality in recent years and most surveys show a rightward tilt on those issues,” young Catholics were considerably more liberal.

In the magazine survey of young voters only 52% percent agree that abortion should be outlawed in the U.S., compared to 55% of Protestants and 66% of white fundamentalists. On Roe vs. Wade, 59% of Catholics agree with the decision while only 53% of Protestants and 24% of white fundamentalists support the Supreme Court’s findings.

Newsweek noted that, “The distinction is even more evident on same-sex marriage.” A majority of young Catholic voters, 58% support gay marriage’s legalization, while only 38% of Protestants and 22% of white fundamentalists think gays and lesbians should have the right to wed. 

While a majority of Protestants and white fundamentalists, 51% percent and 73% percent respectively, support a constitutional ban on gay marriage, a mere 34% percent of young Catholics support amending the Constitution.

As we have written here before, the Catholic vote is now the great swing vote in America, especially in the five or six key states which will be the battleground in November.

Adams Meets Carter

SINN Fein leader Gerry Adams made a special trip to Atlanta to meet with former president and Nobel laureate Jimmy Carter last week.

The trip had been postponed on a previous occasion but this time went ahead. The pair discussed peace and reconciliation and models that can be applied to conflicts around the world, according to a Sinn Fein spokesperson.