John McCain planned his own funeral. And it was one for the ages.
It encapsulated what he viewed as the best of his idea of “America”. One of imperfect people seeking to live up to perfect goals. Sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing, but always trying.
In his last act, he gifted us with something priceless — a reminder of American exceptionalism. Not exceptionalism as something innate but as something to be striven for. To be fought for.
As has been repeated so often, even by McCain himself, he wasn’t a perfect man. He made mistakes. Sometimes grievous ones. But he always believed in what is right about America, in its ideals.
And belief, at the end of the day, is what gets fighters through dark times. It is what makes someone look at inexorable darkness and see light.
Because most of my ‘interaction’ with McCain revolved around when I disagreed with him, I never truly appreciated him before today. But I will always remember and be thankful that his last act of service to this country was to remind us of the best of us. To remind me to hope and fight when all seems very dark.
RIP, Senator. And thank you.