Profile in Courage

                                 Profile in Courage     

          Laboring, in the vineyards of the vote, has always been a task ill-suited to the strongly principled. Compromise, deal making and “log rolling” are the order of the day in the Legislative Process. The participants shrug philosophically, when faced with unpleasant choices. Perhaps ill favored, compromise is the order of the day, to accomplish what needs to be done.

               But, there are certain values that principled members of Congress will not compromise on. The Rule of Law, the sanctity of the   United States Constitution and the ideal of a democratic government are a few “third rail” strictures that some members just won’t abrogate. They swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend the constitution of these United States of America.

              I thought of these notions while watching a rather remarkable woman give her concession speech, after losing a Republican Congressional Primary in Wyoming. Congress woman Elizabeth Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Richard Cheney, stood tall in the saddle, as native Wyoming Cowboys would say. Though diminutive of stature, her force of character and rigidity of philosophical spine  makes her a giant in the American political arena. She refused to budge in her stance of denying “The big lie,” that the last Presidential election had been rigged. She full well knew that her pursuit of the insurrectionist attacker of the Capitol on Jan, 6^th, 2021, would probably cost her a seat in Congress. Congresswoman Cheney decided that upholding the principles of Democracy, to which she had sworn fealty, were more important than her own career. 

            I am reminded of verses from a book by former President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. In his “Profile in Courage,” Kennedy featured a number of remarkable Americans and detailed  the lengths that they had gone, in order to preserve, protect and defend the noble ideals that had given birth to these United States of America. We should add Congresswoman Cheney to this hallowed list

             You don’t see these remarkable people that often in our system. And when we do, we should all take note and appreciate the strength of character that it takes to not only stand up to your philosophical opponents. Most of us can do that easily enough. But, to stand up to your friends and colleagues, when you think them in mightily in error. It takes a sight more measure of inner courage and resoluteness of character than most people possess.

            I don’t know what the future will bring for this estimable woman. But, I do know that she carries the respect and admiration of many Americans, like me. Americans like Liz Cheney are the rock upon which this great nation was founded. Others like her, in Colonial America, stood up to all of their friends and said, “no, this isn’t right. I won’t go along.”

             May the roads rise up to meet you Congresswoman Cheney and the winds be always at your back. And may our nation raise up others of your strength and principle to defend us when needed in the future.

                                                 -30-

                                           (518 words)

                                     Joseph Xavier Martin