If I may, for a moment, I would like for us to reflect on John McCain’s final statement:
"’Fellow Americans’ — that association has meant more to me than any other. I lived and died a proud American. We are citizens of the world’s greatest republic, a nation of ideals, not blood and soil. We are blessed and are a blessing to humanity when we uphold and advance those ideals at home and in the world. We have helped liberate more people from tyranny and poverty than ever before in history. We have acquired great wealth and power in the process.
We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.”
What inspiring words, “we are…a nation of ideals, not blood and soil.” Sen. McCain lived those words at a presidential campaign stop in Minnesota, back in 2008. McCain was conducting a town hall meeting with several of his supporters. As recounted in numerous news sources, McCain passed his wireless microphone to one woman who said:
"I can’t trust Obama. I have read about him and he’s not, he’s not uh — he’s an Arab.”
“He’s not” — before McCain retook the microphone and replied:
"No, ma’am. He’s a decent family man (and) citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that’s what this campaign’s all about. He’s not (an Arab)."
What should have been a moment of celebration, became a moment of disappointment. His statesmanship and respect for our political process, and his opponent, were met with jeers, not cheers, from that crowd.
The military story of John McCain is well known. After his plane was shot down during the Vietnam war, he was a POW for five years at the infamous Hanoi Hilton. His torture included two years of solitary confinement, being bayoneted and having his arms and ribs broken. When it was discovered that his father was an admiral, he was offered early release from his captors; however, he refused to do so, as there were other POWs who had been incarcerated for a longer period.
“He’s not a war hero,” said Donald Trump. “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
I was literally stunned when I first heard that statement. Surely, I did not hear that correctly; but we all know, we did hear it correctly.
Social media is littered with people, much like the lady in Minnesota, railing against the NFL players who are protesting during the National Anthem. Even though these players have continually proven that their protests are not against our military, they continue to be criticized. The criticisms are mainly themed with a picture of an injured solider, with the message, “Freedom isn’t free!” What is ironic is the people posting these messages have been silent with regards to the passing of a brave and decorated soldier, John McCain. It makes you wonder, why would these social media users who love the American soldier be quiet about John McCain?
This is what disappoints me most, as a citizen, and as someone who has a family member serving proudly in our armed forces today. Despite John McCain’s many sacrifices on behalf of his country, he garnered little respect from those who claim to have cornered the market on “patriotism.” Apparently, they only respect those soldiers who fit into their narrow-minded, tunnel vision, intolerant, right-wing evangelical views. “We weaken our greatness when we confuse our patriotism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe.”
And that is where we are today, navigating the difference between “love of country” vs “patriotism.” There are many ways to love your country, everyone will be inspired for different reasons. “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost," (Dalai Lama). Simply stated, in most cases, people play the “patriotism” card when other people’s “love of country” is different than their own.
As to the NFL players taking a knee, John McCain said "that’s their right to do what they want to do as citizens.” Donald Trump, bone spurs and all, stated “get that xx (a term that was found acceptable by his evangelical supporters) off the field right now.” As for me, I will forego Donald Trump’s “patriotism” and find solace in John McCain’s “love of country.”
Good bye, Sen. McCain, you and other like-minded soldiers will be sorely missed!
