A Nation of Ideals

This past weekend I watched the HBO documentary film "For Whom the Bell Tolls" about the life of John McCain.  I'm sure many have assumed from my occasional political comment that I am a Democrat, and I am, but that doesn't mean that I harbor ill will towards Republicans in general and those like Senator McCain are worthy of respect.  Any politician who is acting with honorable intentions or who can admit when they make mistakes is worth listening to.

Kleinke Park, north of Menominee, Michigan

There were interviews with people who have known him for decades and one of his best friends was Joe Biden, who he worked closely with after he was released as a POW in his capacity as the Navy Liason to the U.S. Senate.  At his funeral the former Vice President gave a wonderful eulogy about their time together in those days when they traveled together to many foreign countries and would talk for hours about the promise of America.  Their love of America and their friendship transcended their political idealogical differences.

Forestville Dam County Park, Wisconsin

 It is the idiots, the liars, and the con artists who exist in the political realm who we have to be wary of.  A good leader knows that their job is to work together with the other side to accomplish goals, whether that be Democrats with Republicans or Americans with foreign governments. Nothing is won when distrust is sown.

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

I won't comment further, I just wanted to include a snippet of the farewell speech that was made on his behalf after his recent passing.  Whoever wins in the upcoming elections this fall I hope they are men and women of good intentions who want to put the needs of the nation ahead of their own needs, we need lots of them on both sides of the aisle these days.

Black Creek, Wisconsin

‘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.

Marsh Creek, Janesville, Wisconsin

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.

Robert O. Cook Memorial Arboretum, Janesville

We are three-hundred-and-twenty-five million opinionated, vociferous individuals. We argue and compete and sometimes even vilify each other in our raucous public debates. But 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 will get through these challenging times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do.