From John McCain’s acceptance speech at the Republican Convention....
I was in solitary confinement when my captors offered to release me. I knew why. If I went home, they would use it as propaganda to demoralize my fellow prisoners. Our Code said we could only go home in the order of our capture, and there were men who had been shot down before me. I thought about it, though. I wasn’t in great shape, and I missed everything about America. But I turned it down.
A lot of prisoners had it worse than I did. I’d been mistreated before, but not as badly as others. I always liked to strut a little after I’d been roughed up to show the other guys I was tough enough to take it. But after I turned down their offer, they worked me over harder than they ever had before. For a long time. And they broke me.
“When they brought me back to my cell, I was hurt and ashamed, and I didn’t know how I could face my fellow prisoners. The good man in the cell next door, my friend, Bob Craner, saved me. Through taps on a wall he told me I had fought as hard as I could. No man can always stand alone. And then he told me to get back up and fight again for our country and for the men I had the honor to serve with. Because every day they fought for me.
I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn’t my own man anymore. I was my country’s.
I’m not running for president because I think I’m blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need. My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help me God.”
So, this is what made me realize that I should support McCain vigorously instead of as the less of 2 evils. Although there are many things that he has supported with which I disagree, I now understand that he is motivated by pure love of country. For that, he has my deepest respect, and that is the trait that makes me CERTAIN that he is the right man for the job.
Thank you for posting.. I don’t see how in the world Libs think bringing this up will help them. It just reminds us of the core of the man and we forget about a lot of the differences.
So much emotion and pain in so few words.
Me too. I cried with shame for a while later thinking of how I’ve thought of him and how little I had considered what he had gone through for love of this country. I’m now behind him one hundred percent.
God bless you for posting that. I agree wholeheartedly, no ifs, ands, or buts.
I never served my country in the military like millions have...but I would die for it right now...in a heart beat.
Would you mind if I e-mailed your words to a couple of guys I know who are still in the "less of 2 evils" mindset?
Same here, that’s the part of the speech that made me want to vote for the man himself, instead of just against Obama, or even because he picked Sarah Palin for VP.