An accomplished man does not have to constantly boast about
his accomplishments. His accomplishments will speak for themselves. A learned
man does not have to boast about his “ivy league” education; his education will
be largely reflected in how he articulates and presents himself. A genuine great
businessman would not have to brag
about how great a businessman he is. A two minute internet review quickly proves,
or disproves, such claims. Multiple business bankruptcies do not qualify one as
a great businessman. Finally, claiming “innocence”
of various infractions while declining interview opportunities to prove it does not suggest one’s innocence;
it suggests the opposite. Yes, I’ve been talking about Donald J. Trump, the current
President of the USA.
Right now in America, both parties are still focused on
furthering their own party interests as they have done in the past. However, the majority Republican Party’s
agenda in the Trump era appears to be harsher. Their agenda is characterized by personal
attacks, insults, and extreme partisanship. The Trump playbook puts “party” above “principle”
and “country”. Trumpians have cast aside our traditional American values in
order to adhere to their new Republican party ideology created by, and
orchestrated by Mr. Trump, a leader of questionable values and motives who is enabled by party members who walk “lock
step” with him because they are immobilized by their fear of him. They also
fear the possible loss of their positions at election time if they dare not
“fall in line” with the new Republican Party which has essentially been
hijacked by Donald J. Trump.
In today’s political environment, we rarely encounter independently
thinking Republican leaders of integrity who routinely adhere to our long-held
American values. However, a notable exception is the recently deceased senator
from Arizona, John Sidney McCain III.
Senator McCain never boasted of his accomplishments or his education
at the prestigious Naval Academy at Annapolis. He never complained about his
battle wounds which plagued him from their onset to his death. He always demonstrated a healthy respect for all people. His life was exemplified by
a sincere devotion to duty, honor, country, family, and religion. He consistently
lived his values and that demonstrated who he was.
Before serving our country in Congress, McCain honorably
served our country as a Navy officer and fighter pilot. When his plane was shot
down in action, he was captured and imprisoned for 5 and ½ years at the North
Vietnamese prison called the Hanoi Hilton.
The stories of his heroism while imprisoned abound. Most notably, when offered an early release
from prison (due to his father’s high military rank and position) he refused because he didn’t feel it was right for him to
be released, “out of order”-that is, before
others who had been imprisoned longer than he had been. After his refusal to be released, the enemy
continued to savagely torture him. Donald Trump declined to acknowledge McCain’s
heroism stating that he preferred military
personnel that were not captured.
McCain’s father and his grandfather both earned the rank of
Admiral in the Navy, so John had a hard task ahead of him if he desired to
equal or “best’ his forebears. However, John decided to continue his public
service in the Congress of the United States and he served there with the
utmost distinction, serving over thirty as a Senator and 4 years as a Representative. It looks like his accomplishments rivaled the
accomplishments of his forbears.
According to Wikipedia, in 2015, McCain became Chairman of
the Senate Armed Services Committee and in 2016 did not back the nomination of
Donald J. Trump for the presidency. In 2017 he reduced his active role in the
Senate in order to obtain treatment for his newly diagnosed brain cancer. Wikipedia described McCain as a practicing
Republican conservative who broke with the party on matters he disagreed
with. He therefore became known as a
“maverick” because he continually chose “principle” and “country” over
party. In the Trump administration,
where “party over principle” became the norm,
Mr. McCain continued to put principle and country before party. Particularly
noteworthy was his “thumbs down” vote which effectively “killed” the repeal of
The Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) in 2017. Donald Trump never forgave McCain
for that!
Senator McCain’s adherence to the principles of duty, honor,
and country, as well as his tendency to “tell it like it is”, gained him the respect and admiration of many
American citizens who felt that these virtues had been rapidly and steadily declining
in the Trump Administration.
Unfortunately, John Sidney McCain III died on August 25,
2018, just four days prior to his birthday of August 29th. He was
four days away from reaching age 82. He left behind his wife of 38 years, Cindy
McCain, seven children, and a host of other relatives.
Among those eulogizing McCain at memorials or at the funeral
were former Vice President Joe Biden, former Presidents George W. Bush and
Barack Obama, and his daughter, Meghan McCain. Though the eulogies effectively
spoke of McCain’s life and accomplishments, they also cited the divisive
climate on Capitol Hill today and spoke of the need to return to civil
discourse as well as the need to return to the more “bipartisan” congressional relationships
that characterized other administrations. As the eulogies progressed, Donald Trump’s
name was never specifically mentioned. However, it became clear (as they
delivered their messages) that each of the above eulogists blamed Trump for the divisive and partisan
climate that exists on Capitol Hill today.
Senator John McCain exemplified independence, integrity, and
love of family, country, and peace. He always displayed America’s great virtues
and values at home and abroad. He was a unifier of Americans, and he understood
our important role in the world. He has “earned” his rest. He has earned his
peace.
In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul said: “I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” So too has John Sidney McCain
III.
Senator McCain, an appreciative America salutes you. Rest in Peace.
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