Senator John McCain died this past Saturday after a battle with a deadly form of brain cancer. He was truly a war hero even though Donald J. Trump has, on several occasions, had the audacity to say that he didn't think McCain was a hero; and said: "I prefer those who weren't captured."
What a terrible, insulting remark by the same guy who could have also served his country but asked for and received four deferments for college and one for bad feet. What kind of man, who sat out that tragic war, has the gall to denigrate a fellow American who was ready to die for his country? How very pathetic.
Sure Trump wasn't the only politician that found a way to stay out of the Vietnam War. Among the notables who also could have served were G.W. Bush and his mentor, Dick Cheney. A great many Americans received deferments but do we hear any of them trashing a man who spent 5- - years in captivity?
Some like Trump say that being a prisoner of war doesn't make anyone a hero but that's not a fair assumption. Among the reasons why I think McCain was a real hero is the fact that when he was given the opportunity to be released he refused to accept it unless, those who had been imprisoned longer than he, were released first.
That's a hero in contrast to an individual who was pampered and little more than the spoiled son of a rich man.
I disagreed with Senator McCain on various issues but I always respected him for trying to do what was right for his country. He was an American patriot; Trump will never, could never, be referred to an American patriot.
McCain will go down in history as a real war hero. Trump will hardly be remembered except as being a pseudo-president of low character. That misguided Vietnam War took the lives of some 58,000 American troops, a great many who didn't really want to go, while others decided to go to war for their country.
John McCain was unique among politicians, he stood out from the pack. He knew that honest and forthright dissent against government abuse of power was truly the greatest form of patriotism. He did just that when he cast the deciding "no'' vote when Trump and his Republican colleagues tried to destroy Obamacare. He stopped them in their tracks.
Yes, there are heroes and then there are those who don't even understand what true heroism is about. Goodbye Senator McCain, rest in peace, a job well done.
Michael Payne
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