A Brief Tribute to John McCain

Condolences to John McCain's wife and family. Senator McCain (R. AZ.) was a remarkable man. One of the attributes that made him so was his deep appreciation that the ideals of the United States eclipsed any immediate squabbles over the importance of Large "L" Liberalism versus Large "C" Conservativism. Decency for McCain was more important than victory.

McCain believed in the United States as a place where people of all backgrounds, races, faiths, genders, and, yes, even a wide range of political views could contribute to the betterment of home and the world more by working together than by drawing, or falling prey to, battle lines. He was certain that every individual, including his most staunch political opponents, from the anonymous to the most famous, deserved the utmost respect. McCain exhibited this commitment as a truly heroic POW and in his decades long service in politics.

Throughout his life, McCain more than occasionally frustrated those on the left and right. In doing so, he so often revealed that his personal ambitions were less important than was fostering good will in service of the nation he loved. Although there were times when I was among those who found his political choices frustrating, and although there was never any doubt that he did indeed choose politics as life's work, along with all that came with it, few could ever doubt McCain's love of country and his aspiration, on behalf of us all, that we can and must strive to do better.

Here is my earlier, longer tribute.

May he rest in peace, and may his memory forever be a blessing.