Hello again, Westfield…It is with much sorrow, that I prematurely commented upon Sen. John McCain going off treatment. I had hoped that such an honorable person would have had a bit more time with his family. Again the praise by so many Americans; Americans of all walks of life. Those that worked with him, and from those that competed with him. Praise for how he acted, and how, he conducted himself with honor and integrity; so absent in current government, shows that there is still hope for us. John McCain’s passing in many ways has brought America, and Americans together, if only for a while. Again as an American, and as a vet from the Vietnam era I cannot hold back my thoughts. While so many Americans regardless of principles and interests could rise above the fray to praise and honor this man speaks volumes of respectability long absent from many of his peers.
One sour note to all of this; while Washington D.C., and so many other places throughout our nation were draped with flags at half-mast; the White House did not. And, while former Presidents Bush and Obama, and, as well, former Vice President Biden accepted speaking at his memorials; President Trump refused to release any comment on his passing. How petty can anyone be? How disrespectful to all Veterans, and especially to all who were ever Prisoners of War? Trumps comment that his heroes don’t get captured? Oh, he was not able to enlist as he had bone spurs on one of his feet; but he does not remember one. No, he had a rich and influential father. Read his story, and check into his factual history. For man with such a sharp tongue, he is so very thin skin. Sorry, but how much is too much to tolerate? All the rhetoric about how proud he is of our veterans, and military people, yet this slap in the face to every man and women who has ever served, is serving, especially again, our POW’s is more than disgraceful. All, because John McCain stood up to him, what a coward. Sorry again, but my emotions and sense of moral integrity find it hard to respond to this without having some level of anger and contempt emerge. Most of you who know me know that I am a positive person, who jokes, and is happy even with the adverse effects that my life has had. How can a man who has had everything be so cruel, condescending, and hateful?
OK, back to the positive, hopefully this death will be a rallying call for all Americans, not so caught up in a loyalty to an ideology, or some cult of personality that we can come together for the GOOD of OUR nation; to have a bit of the courage, the integrity, and the sense of personal and shared responsibility to our nation more so than just to ourselves, and our self-interests. His example is set, but how many of us will have the courage and tenacity to follow it? Brian Hoose, [email protected]. God Bless John McCain and his family, and all those real Americans who stood with him.
