Sunday School 8/26/18

Not surprisingly, much of the time in the classrooms today was devoted to remembering Arizona Senator John McCain, who passed away yesterday at the age of 81.  His passing came nine years to the day after his friend and colleague, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy succumbed to the same disease.

Here are a few of the comments from folks across the spectrum, politicians and members of the media alike, and from McCain himself over the years.

From ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos:

I've had the good fortune to spend 60 years in service to this wondrous land. It's not been perfect service to be sure. And there were probably times when the country might have benefited from a little less of my help. But I tried to deserve the privilege as best I can. And I've been repaid a thousand times over, with adventures, with good company, with the satisfaction of service something more important than myself, of  being a bit player in the extraordinary story of America. And I am so grateful. ~ John McCain

Yes, listen, I'd say to you that as someone who was in that race at that time when the now president made that comment (that McCain was not a war hero), to me, that was the moment of demarcation when politics changed in this country... We were all preparing like, OK, how's the race going to be different with Trump out of it. And the fact that didn't end the race - that was a real change. ~ Former NJ Governor Chris Christie

But isn't it, isn't it worth taking a moment for the entire country to, to see what it looks like to put our country first? Nobody could ever accuse John McCain of being weak or soft or not tough or not petulant from time to time. But he was also a bipartisan, he was also kind, he governed with great dignity and great strength. Isn't that a good motto for us going forward? And if - and if his life it not going to be in vain, America maybe ought to take a moment and think about what that looks like for all of us that are in office. ~ Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu

From Fox News Sunday

I remember John for his courage, his tenacity and his wonderful sense of humor. I mean, he was tough as nails, incredibly bright and also just always cracking a joke, always a smile...believed so strongly in America and really a patriot, but always never took himself too seriously. ~ Former NH Senator Kelly Ayotte

John's entire approach to life was we want to get the most out of the time that we have here, so let's did in and get going. And in his case, it pointed him towards public service, service of his country and of the state of Arizona. And he certainly did get the most out of the time he had here. ~ Former AZ Senator Jon Kyl

One of the most significant things he did was when he worked to make peace with Vietnam, a country where he was tortured, where he fought a war. He banded together with John Kerry, who he disagreed with on many things, including the Vietnam War, and said that our past does not have to dictate our future when it comes to our relationships around the world; he normalized relations with the country (that) tortured him. That is an extraordinary statement. ~ Fox commentator/radio host Marie Harf

And NBC's Meet the Press:

In the end, it matters less that you can fight. It's what you fight for that matters.~ John McCain

It was interesting the way he conducted himself in the Senate. He almost would go out of his way to find the Democrat that you would think is least likely to wok with a Republican and try and forge a bond with them. Before you (Hillary Clinton) it was Ted Kennedy. And it's almost become a - it's legendary the way he would try to reach out. ~ Chuck Todd, host of Meet the Press

He really understood in the marrow of his bones what it meant to be an American and how important it was for us to, yes, disagree and differ. But at the end of the day to come together, to work together, to trust each other to get things done. ~ Hillary Clinton

I don't know that we'll ever see anybody who's like John McCain. I think he's one of a kind. I think we can certainly try to follow his example and seeing the good in our opponents and recognizing that people may be on the other side of the aisle or have a different philosophy but they're our friends and they're fellow Americans. I think that that would go a long way if we would follow that example from John. ~ Arizona Senator Jeff Flake

Every time I've done something for what may have been influenced by political reasons, I've regretted it. Every time that I've done something that I think is right, it's turned out okay in the end. I've got to do what I think is right. ~ John McCain

CNN's State of the Union, in mourning today:

We will really be missing such an important voice for national unity. John McCain felt very strongly about virtually every issue he tackled, but it was never based in partisanship. He didn't try to score partisan points as he worked on issues. He would work with anyone who wanted to accomplish the goal that he shared.  But once John McCain made up his mind about something, there was not shaking him..that is a quality that marked his entire life. ~ Maine Senator Susan Collins

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Senator John McCain, to the people of Arizona and America, whom he served so admirably. We remember him as a champion of the transatlantic alliance, and a friend of Germany. ~ German Embassy statement

 John McCain really wanted to be president. And I think he would have been a terrific president. But he didn't want it so badly that he would do things that would undermine or give people pause about their faith in the goodness of this country and its leaders. And I think we'd all do well to try and hearken back to that example going forward. ~ Steve Duprey, former McCain advisor

I don't care, I can take it, but president Trump, or candidate Trump, he should apologize to all of the other POWs out there, because they deserve better than that. ~ John McCain

And finally, Face the Nation on CBS:

Well, he always had a voice of clarity and vision and courage. But I remember those moments of uncommon decency, which is, unfortunately, in short supply on the American political scene.~ Dick Durbin, Illinois Senator

... this is why when, when people talk about his character and his discipline and his honor, it is a durable kind of, kind of character. In other words, it has scuff marks, it's been out in the real world. It's not encased in some glass case and unreal. He failed a lot. He talked about his failures. He beat himself up about his failures and even when he was off course, he was often trying to get back on course which is why so many people look at his life on the campaign trail and thought this is a model for the way politicians ought to behave, but also the way we should behave. ~ CBS anchor John Dickerson

There was a great deal of love for Senator McCain on display this morning. It feels as if a bar has been raised, and we're awaiting the one who will rise to the challenge.

See you around campus.