Country First

This week, we remember Senator John McCain.

It has been striking to read the remembrances
from Senator McCain's colleagues on both sides of the aisle.  

Republicans and Democrats alike
admired Senator McCain
for his straight talk
and his principled actions.  

Republicans and Democrats alike called him friend.

His voice will be sorely missed in our national debates.

​The quote above is taken from McCain's recently published memoir. 
Here is the quote in context...

"Before I leave, I'd like to see our politics begin to return to the purposes and practices that distinguish our history from the history of other nations. I'd like to see us recover our sense that we are more alike than different. We're citizens of a republic made of shared ideals forged in a new world to replace the tribal enmities that tormented the old one. Even in times of political turmoil such as these, we share that awesome heritage and the responsibility to embrace it.  Whether we think each other right or wrong in our views on the issues of the day, we owe each other our respect, as so long as our character merits respect, and as long as we share for all our differences for all the rancorous debates that enliven and sometimes demean our politics, a mutual devotion to the ideals our nation was conceived to uphold that all are created equal and liberty and equal justice are the natural rights of all. Those rights inhabit the human heart, and from there though they may be assailed, they can never be wrenched.
​I want to urge Americans for as long as I can to remember that this shared devotion to human rights is our truest heritage and our most important loyalty."

"Whether we think each other
right or wrong
in our views on the issues of the day,
we owe each other our respect"

John McCain listened respectfully to other opinions while
still standing up for what he believed to be right.

He valued the debate that comes from
citizens respectfully engaged in political conversations.

Senator McCain showed us what bipartisanship could look like...
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Country First
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When McCain received his party's nomination for president at the Republican National Convention in 2008,
he included these words in his acceptance speech......

"Finally, a word to Senator Obama and his supporters. We’ll go at it over the next two months. That’s the nature of these contests, and there are big differences between us. But you have my respect and admiration. Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, an association that means more to me than any other. We’re dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal and endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights. No country ever had a greater cause than that. And I wouldn’t be an American worthy of the name if I didn’t honor Senator Obama and his supporters for their achievement."

"Despite our differences, much more unites than divides us."

Let's take Senator McCain's words to heart
and look for what we have in common.
His parting words give us hope that this is possible...

"...we have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country, we'll get through these challenging times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do."

RIP Senator McCain
Thank you for your service to our nation.
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