Before his death, we are told that John McCain personally plotted and crafted the details of his own memorial service. This information is interesting when we consider the fact that Senator McCain believed that extreme partisanship threatened the republic and the institution he loved (the U.S. Congress) Moreover, we are all aware of McCain's penchant for stirring the pot and speaking truth to power. It is, therefore, not much of a stretch to imagine his memorial service as his final message to America.
In this connection, it is interesting to note some of the things that were said during that service today. And, if he truly was a hero and a patriot (and I think most of us believe that he was), we would do well to at least listen to the voices he chose to present to us if we are truly interested in honoring him and demonstrating our respect for his service to this country.
In her remarks, Meghan McCain said:
"We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness, the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served."
"In the past few days, my family and I have heard from so many of those Americans who stood in the warmth and light of his fire and found it illuminated what is best about them. We are grateful to them because they're grateful to him. A few have resented that fire for that light it cast upon them, for the truth it revealed about their character, but my father never cared what they thought, and even that small number still have the opportunity as long as they draw breath to live up to the example of John McCain."
"The America of John McCain is the America of the Revolution. Fighters with no stomach for the summer soldier and sunshine patriot, making the world anew with the bells of liberty. The America of John McCain is the America of Abraham Lincoln. Fulfilling the promise of the Declaration of independence that all men are created equal, and suffering greatly to see it through. The America of John McCain is the America of the boys who rushed the colors in every war across three centuries, knowing in them is the life of the Republic, and particularly those by their daring, as Ronald Reagan said, gave up their chance as being husbands and fathers and grandfathers and gave up their chance to be revered old men."
"The America of John McCain is, yes, the America of Vietnam, fighting the fight, even in the most forlorn cause, even in the most grim circumstances, even in the most distant and hostile corner of the world, standing even in defeat for the life and liberty of other peoples in other lands. The America of John McCain is generous and welcoming and bold. She's resourceful, and confident and secure. She meets her responsibilities. She speaks quietly because she is strong. America does not boast, because she has no need to.
The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again, because America was always great."
For the full transcript of her remarks:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/01/politics/meghan-mccain-full-remarks-john-mccain-funeral/index.html
In his remarks, former President George W. Bush said:
"John was above all a man with a code. He lived by a set of public virtues that brought strength and purpose to his life and to his country. He was courageous, with a courage that frightened his captors, and inspired his countrymen. He was honest, no matter whom it offended. Presidents were not spared. He was honorable. always recognizing that his opponents were still patriots and human beings. He loved freedom with a passion of a man who knew its absence. He respected the dignity inherent in every life, a dignity that does not stop at borders and cannot be erased by dictators."
"Perhaps above all John detested the abuse of power, could not abide bigots and swaggering. He spoke up for the little guy, forgotten people in forgotten places."
"If we're ever tempted to forget who we are, grow weary of our cause, John's voice will come as a whisper over our shoulder. We are better than this. America is better than this."
For the full transcript of his remarks:
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/a22865864/george-w-bush-john-mccain-funeral-speech-eulogy-full-transcript/
In his remarks, former President Barack Obama said:
"Others this week and this morning have spoken to the depths of his torment and the depths of his courage there in the cells of Hanoi when day after day, year after year that youthful iron was tempered into steel. And it brings to mind something that Hemingway wrote, a book that Meghan referred to, his favorite book. 'Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today.'"
"John cared about the institutions of self government, our constitution, our bill of rights, rule of law. Separation of powers. Even the arcane rules and procedures of the senate. He knew that in a nation as big and boisterous and diverse as ours, those institutions, those rules, those norms are what bind us together. Give shape and order to our common life. Even when we disagree. Especially when we disagree."
"John believed in honest argument and hearing our views. He understood that if we get in the habit of bending the truth to suit political expediency or party orthodoxy, our democracy will not work. That's why he was willing to buck his own party at times. occasionally work across the aisle on campaign finance reform and immigration reform. That's why he championed a free and independent press as vital to our democratic debate. And the fact it earned him good coverage didn't hurt either."
"John understood as JFK understood, as Ronald Reagan understood that part of what makes our country great is that our membership is based not on our blood line, not on what we look like, what our last names are, not based on where our parents or grandparents came from or how recently they arrived, but on adherence to a common creed that all of us are created equal. Endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights."
"So much of our politics, our public life, our public discourse can seem small and mean and petty. Trafficking in bombastic manufactured outrage, it's politics that pretends to be brave and tough, but in fact is born of fear. John called on us to be bigger than that. He called on us to be better than that."
For the full transcript of his remarks:
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/a22865504/barack-obama-john-mccain-funeral-speech-full-transcript/
I believe that Senator McCain had one final message for us. I think that John McCain knew that we can be better (and are better) than what we have become under the current occupant of the Oval Office. What do you think?
