Take The 'Profiles In Courage' Challenge !!!

[WillyT]

<snip>

In 1954-55 a freshman U.S. Senator from Massachusetts wrote a book profiling eight of his historical Senatorial colleagues, such men as John Quincy Adams, Sam Houston, and Robert A. Taft. Instead of focusing on their storied careers, John F. Kennedy chose to illustrate their acts of integrity, when they stood alone against tremendous political and social pressure for what they felt was right.

<snip>

Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060955449/102-7808757-9254550?v=glance&n=283155

For those who don't know (and I hope I'm remembering correctly), Kennedy wrote this book (which actually did win a Pulitzer) while recovering from back surgery. And he gave props to people that had served in the U.S. Senate, that actually took to the floor, and gave speeches, or voted, against their own personal interests, i.e. keeping their seat in the Senate. He highlighted the rare politician, that although faced with certain defeat come election time, was willing to do what they thought best, despite the reaction from their constituents. What they thought was right for the country, damn the consequences to their own political future.

Here's the challenge, left or right, when was the last profile in courage that you can think of recently? In your lifetime? EVER???

And what does any of this say about our 'representative' government? Ya know, where we elect people smarter than us, with more integrity than us, and that actually have the best interests of this country and its constitution in the fore-front of their beings???

Please... do tell!

:shrug:

[pstans]

1. Russ Feingold casting the lone vote against the Patriot Act

:patriot:


http://www.russfeingold.org/multimedia.php
http://www.russforpresident.com/

[WillyT]

3. Ya Know... You May Have Something There...

Normally, I'd have said that a Dem taking a stand in a Blue state doesn't meet the requirements, but lately, Wisconsin's Blueness has been in doubt. So you may be right about Russ. Especially after 911, he had the potential to not only piss off Wisconsin, but the entire country.

I'm gonna say yeah, Russ fits the profile of courage.

And I know that, cause sometimes he even pisses ME off, LOL!!!

:hi:

[FloridaPat]

2. Kucinich & McDermott(rep from Ore). Voted against Iraq invasion.

Tried everything they could to stop the invasion. I think they voted against quite a few of the other obnoxious bills, but can't remember off the top of my head.

[WillyT]

5. Okay... I'm Leaning Toward Both Of Them, But...

even though they were courageous in my mind and yours, did it put their seats in jeopardy?

Think John Cornyn coming out for Gay Marriage, or Ted Kennedy supporting privatizing Social Security.

Extreme I know, but it's about what the person THINKS is right, and knowing that they probably won't hold that seat come election time.

:shrug:

[cdsilv]

4. I haven't been a political junkie all my life, just since the Clenis ...

...became the embodiment of evil. I never could understand why getting a little on the side would be an impeachable offense.

Nonetheless, I think Archie Cox, Sam Ervin, Woodstein, etc... during watergate showed courage.

Sam Nunn at times showed courage.

The fact that Ed Kennedy is still in congress, to me is a profile in courage - he lost two brothers to political exremists - I would have just gone into business and hid. He did not.

Then again, Fidel Castro has thumbed his nose at the US for a really long time. Pretty courageous.

Hugo Chavez?

Jimmy Carter - didn't matter that he had NO political power after his presidency, he has steadfastly tried to facilitate peace and understanding around the world. He also has truly helped those in need, while 'governments' just stomp on them.

In the current political climate I mostly see 'Profiles in Cowardice' from all sides.

John Conyers, Barbara Boxer, Russ Feingold, John Kerry (at times) Arlen Spector (going after the domestic surveillance of the shrub) - seem courageous. Time will tell.

[WillyT]

6. Yeah... And I Just Had A Horrible Thought...

Joe Lieberman. I mean... he may be about to lose his seat for his stances, unless he changes parties.

OK... I have to throw up now!

:puke:

[Peter Frank]

7. Sen. Jim Jeffords...

-- Rejected the Republican agenda & became an Independent, knowing the severe criticism & harassment he was going to endure.

[WillyT]

8. I Can Buy Jeezum Jim !!!

And thank you for reminding me!

:yourock:

[saltpoint]

9. I nominate then-Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey, who was a

formidable basketball star in his time, and who stood on the floor of the U.S. Senate and pounded -- I mean POUNDED -- the podium from which he spoke the exact number of times in front of the microphone that Rodney King was struck by Los Angeles policemen.

Bradley's remarks sought to reveal to average U.S. citizens who had the temerity and gumption to listen that day that poor people are trampled by anyone with power, and often by racist people with power. In his call to elevate the dialogue of civil freedoms and racial justice, Senator Bradley was eloquent and forceful at once, drawing from a well of truth-telling which seems completely alien and unknown to the current resident of the White House.

[WillyT]

11. And He Gave Some Tremendous Speeches On Race Relations !!!

He spoke eloquently, and with moral authority, having been in the NBA in the mid-sixties and seeing how blacks, friends\teammates of his, were treated around the country.

Props to Mr. Bradley for sure.

:hi:

[saltpoint]

13. Now there you've gone and made me homesick, WillyT.

Great visuals on Senator Bradley. I was a Bradley delegate in 2000. Those photos rekindle old loyalties.

I like your post tonight a lot. To start with, you invoke JFK -- not just a favorite, but an abiding favorite. His murderous death in Dallas ripped the heart of of most of the nation, and in one degree or another, we are still trying to heal that wound.

Next you post a passage in praise of his writing a Pulitzer-winning book, and anybody who gives a tip of the hat to writers is an angel in my book -- thanks for this, too. And this in an era where the current president can't even read one sentence without putting both feet in his mouth and his head up his ass.

Last, you asked us all to think things over carefully with a view toward the past and future at once. If we don't do that as citizens, we aren't really citizens.

Bravo for this post tonight and I'm votin' it for the Greatest.

[WillyT]

14. Thanks...

:pals:

[DaveinMD]

18. Bill Bradley was my idol growing up

a liberal Dem Senator and a hall of fame basketball player. He lived the life I wanted as a kid.

[saltpoint]

24. Yes. I think the Democratic Party should ask his counsel on its

future course. I don't think he'd steer them wrong.

Loved your comment about Bradley living the life you wanted as a kid. I am thinking I'd loved to have had his life as an adult, too -- he's a gleaming example of a public servant.

[DaveinMD]

26. yeah

He was really a unique public servant. My wife was elected a Bradley delegate. I really think he would have beaten Bush if he won the nomination.

[Historic NY]

10. Sen Al Gore Sr. & Sen Mike Mansfield........

both anti-war, both civil right advocates......both became targets.
They had many accomplishments in their years, but stuck hard to principle.

[WillyT]

12. Definitely...

:bounce:

[applegrove]

15. Tecumseh. He switched sides. He & his people were genocided. He

went with the Brits. And saved CANADA.

[WillyT]

23. And He Said...

Let us form one body, one heart, and defend to the last warrior our country, our homes, our liberty, and the graves of our fathers.

Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.

Where today are the Pequot? Where are the Narragansett, the Mohican, the Pokanoket, and many other once powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before the avarice and the oppression of the White Man, as snow before a summer sun.

Will we let ourselves be destroyed in our turn without a struggle, give up our homes, our country bequeathed to us by the Great Spirit, the graves of our dead and everything that is dear to us? I know you will cry with me, "NEVER! NEVER!"

Link: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/tecumseh.html

:yourock:

:hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

16. Oh wow

I'd love to have this book!

[azurnoir]

17. Paul Wellstone

Who was the one lone vote against Desert Storm.

[WillyT]

19. Oh Yeah...

For a whole lotta reasons...

:yourock:

[DaveinMD]

30. what a great man

I met him at a YD event in Maryland. He was dressed casual and just introduced himself as Paul. He is greatly missed.

[DaveinMD]

20. Marjorie Margolis Medvinsky

cast the deciding vote in favor of President Clinton's first budget and it cost her her seat in Congress.

[WillyT]

21. That's Actually A Perfect Example !!!

Way ta go!

:bounce::hi::bounce:

[DaveinMD]

22. Thanks

what do I win :-)

[WillyT]

25. I'll Buy Ya A Drink At The Great Nationwide DU Gathering...

that we've been talkin about for years but can never quite consummate the deal, LOL!!!

Either that, or come to S.F. and hang out with us in Golden Gate Park this spring\summer.

:hi::shrug::hi:

[DaveinMD]

27. I love San Francisco

Its my favorite city. I'd love to move there one day. Hopefully, I'll have a business excuse to come out there sometime in the near future.

[WillyT]

28. Let Us Know, We'd Love Ta Meet Ya !!!

:hi:

[saltpoint]

29. This isn't exactly current chronologically, but when it comes to courage

I'd like to nominate the half-dozen or so young Mexican men and boys who stood on the walls of the Castillo Chapultepec during the siege of Mexico City and died in their defense in 1847.

As they watched the American forces advance to what was becoming an inevitable siege of the castle and the fall of the city, the young people who were defending their heritage and their nation wrapped themselves in the Mexican flag and hurled themselves to their deaths rather than be taken by the conquering army.

Their courage is honored in Mexico City today at the monumento a los Heroes Ninos (Monument to the Heroic Youths). (the "Boy Heroes" or "Heroic Cadets")

Talk about a combination of bedrock integrity and titanium balls.

___
That's the best translation I know... if anybody can purify my Spanish, please do it.

[Marie26]

31. Paul Wellstone, Murtha, Feingold. n/t

[WillyT]

32. Yep...

:hi:

[applegrove]

33. Maybe some historian can write these up for us. Cause Kennedy had

help. :hi: