McCain embodies definition of greatness
His lineage was Naval aristocracy. They told him that he could go home. His response? He refused unless all his men could go with him.
When I think of John McCain, I think, character, integrity, and virtue. In the midst of his campaign against President Obama, a woman gained the microphone and began to say that Barack Obama was not an American. McCain stopped her, took the microphone and said, “No ma’am, he is an American and he loves his country. We just disagree.”
Being a child of Arizona, lately, my mind and heart have turned increasingly to John McCain. Reading between the lines, I fear, he is dying. One by one my American heroes are leaving this life. We may never see his like again, but that is not to say I shared his politics, as mostly I do not. Nevertheless, John McCain embodies so much that I respect.
President Jimmy Carter convinced Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin to gather at Camp David in the fall of 1968. Together they embarked upon a great effort to secure peace in the Middle East. Each participant risked legacy, political power and even life itself by their participation. But in the end, both Sadat and Begin signed off on the Camp David Accords. Although peace in the Middle East still eludes us, there is peace between Israel and Egypt.
So what is the common denominator between these persons? All were warriors but there is more to be encountered here. Without being too melodramatic, McCain and Sadat shared a common trait with Martin Luther King and Jesus Christ. The character “trait” I am pointing to is the willingness to count the needs of others as more important than ones’ own. Humility is the ground out of which greatness only ever emerges.
We live today, unfortunately, in a world that equates winning with greatness. Success is the measure by which status is conferred. Being number one is all that matters and all behaviors are acceptable in pursuit of this goal. Nevertheless, there is one inescapable problem with this life philosophy. It is contrary to the central lesson of history. Name your greatest heroes, dig in a bit, and you will inevitably find humility.
Time and time again John McCain has acted with integrity and humility counting the welfare of others as more important than his own. Politics aside, I offer the Senator my profound admiration and respect. There awaits you a home not made with human hands and upon your arrival I have no doubt that you will be greeted as follows: “Well done…”
May God bless you and keep you and make God’s own light to shine upon you, John McCain. REV DR. DONALD LONGBOTTOM Yuma