Heroes 072817

The word hero is used much to freely in the United States.  An American hero no longer has to be a Horatius (Horatio) defending a bridge against invading hordes.  The new American heroes don't even have be the equivalent of a Spartan of the famous 300 fighting the entire Persian army to a stand still.

Today's American hero merely has to take care that he doesn't trip over his own feet as he retreats from responsibility.

America does have one true hero of the old school, despite being implied to be a coward by his own president. John Sidney McCain III the 81 year old Senator from Arizona has spent most of his life in the service of his country.  As Navy combat pilot during the Vietnam War McCain faced death on ever mission deep over the north.  Over Hanoi in 1967 McCain was finally blown out of the sky and seriously injured.  Capture by the North Vietnamese he was repeatedly tortured for six year before being finally released.

After retiring from the Navy McCain was elected to Congress and later to the U.S. Senate, where he continues to serve with honor.  Considered a maverick (meaning he did not always toe the party line) he championed campaign reform which resulted in the McCain-Feingold Act in 2002 (the Bipartisan Campaign Reform).  He also vocally opposed pork barrel politics and was instrumental in a bi-partisan effort alleviating a crisis over judicial nominations.  If his service and standing for good government is not enough to justify the title of National Hero then this week seals his title.

On July 14 2017 McCain underwent a minimally invasive surgery that discovered an aggressive brain tumor.  While recovering at home before undergoing the rigor of cancer treatments the Senate was locked in a bloody GOP internecine battle over health care legislation.  Despite his illness McCain flew back to Washington on the 25th and delivered an outstanding speech condemning the party-line processes of the legislation.  Again flying cover for Senate colleagues to timid to stand up against Trump's threats and intimidation McCain tipped the scale casting his vote to kill legislation that harmed millions of people.  There is little that Trump could do to the Senator from Arizona who stood in the middle of the street in the finest western traditions of a shootout.

That is the character of a real hero standing nearly alone defending the nation against tyranny.

The prognosis for McCain is not good but he is a survivor.  Hang in there John, the country still needs you to stand up against an attempt at authoritarianism.