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I recently got into a battle over semantics with a Republican friend who questioned my use of the word “right” to describe health care for all (which is also how I feel about public education by the way). Anyway, this friend corrected my word choice, preferring the words “moral imperative,” which I allowed. During President Obama’s speech on health care last night, he referenced this letter from Senator Ted Kennedy that he received after the senator’s death. You can follow the link to read Kennedy’s entire letter, but here’s one paragraph that resonates for me (my bold): “And so because of your vision and resolve, I came to believe that soon, very soon, affordable health coverage will be available to all, in an America where the state of a family’s health will never again depend on the amount of a family’s wealth. And while I will not see the victory, I was able to look forward and know that we will – yes, we will – fulfill the promise of health care in America as a right and not a privilege.”

Maybe it is a core philosophical difference–the notion that everyone is entitled to quality health care–or maybe it is more about the details of how to make it happen without crippling our economy. But as we go forward to solve this complex issue, the discussion must center around how to make it happen as a goal worthy of our nation rather than a debatable premise. Whether you call it a moral imperative or a right, quality health care must be available to all Americans or we are not fulfilling the dreams of our founders.