The Beacon of Civility: John McCain, R. I. P.

The following email was originally posted on August 27, 2018

Once upon a time, we, as a class, pondered the notion of having a lasting discussion on civility.  Sadly, the discussion did not last and we have continued onward into the age that we are in now.  

The age we are in now is an age where there is less light.  Darkness seems to be prevalent and our most esteemed political and religious institutions seem to be mired in a maelstrom of divisiveness and despair. 

And so it seems only right to note the passing of John McCain, a man who I disagreed with politically but who I admired for his principled stances and for his commitment to civility.  He was a light ... a beacon of civility ,,, whose passing has made this a much darker world but whose life story perhaps still provides a guide as to how we can make it through the storm to reach safe shores. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Class of 1975

P.S. My favorite passages from the Wikipedia article are:

During a campaign rally in Minnesota, Gayle Quinnell, a 75-year old McCain supporter said she did not trust Obama because "he's an Arab",[260] McCain pointedly replied to the woman, "No ma'am. He's a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues."[259] McCain's response was considered one of the finer moments of the campaign and was still being viewed several years later as a marker for civility in American politics.[258][261]

McCain returned to the Senate on July 25, less than two weeks after brain surgery. He cast a deciding vote allowing the Senate to begin consideration of bills to replace Obamacare. Along with that vote, he delivered a speech criticizing the party-line votingprocess used by the Republicans, as well as by the Democrats in passing Obamacare to begin with, and McCain also urged a "return to regular order" utilizing the usual committee hearings and deliberations.[359][360][361] On July 28, he cast the decisive vote against the Republicans' final proposal that month, the so-called "skinny repeal" option, which failed 49–51.[362]

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