“The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great.” ( Meghan McCain quote)
It was 17 years ago today that New York’s twin towers were attacked by two kidnapped commercial airplanes, several days after I had arrived in Beijing. Since flights in and our of China ceased for some time, ironically our small group felt safer there than in American when we began hearing scary stories from the few brief phone conversations we had with our loved ones. Eventually we arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, to visit the life and revolutionary activities of Ho Chi Minh. It was there we visited what was called the Hanoi Hilton Prison where John McCain was held for six years, refusing to be released until those imprisoned before him were first released. The Hoa Lo prison I saw where our many pilots had been imprisoned, had been restored and was recognized as an Historic Relic. They were planning more restorations of the huge Prison de Hoa. I had a sense he was highly honored by our guide who definitely preferred us Americans to the French who so long had occupied their country.
The week’s celebrations of the life and values and patriotism of this remarkable man who frequently referred to himself as an imperfect man, had long urged our polarized nation to recognize the humanity even in bitter political opponents. I like many Americans was mesmerized by this man’s orchestration of this week-long celebration of his life.
In fact, I felt this song, made popular by Frank Sinatra, could be about the life of John McCain.
And now, the end is near and so I face the final curtain,
My friend, I’ll say it clear, I’ll state my case of what I’m certain-
I’ve lived a life that’s full, I travelled each and every highway
And more much more than this, I did it my way.
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried, I’ve had my fill, my share of loosing
and now as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
to think I did all that and may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, oh no, not me, I did it my way.