1989: A reminder

Did John McCain sleep through 1989? Was he on some kind of yearlong bender? Maybe he was just really busy clearing up after that Keating affair.

In any case, John McCain doesn't remember 1989. That means he's forgotten some of the most unforgettable moments in the 20th century. And having forgotten them, or having somehow, incredibly, missed them entirely, John McCain is unable to understand what happened and why.

Instead, McCain tries to rewrite history as though 1989 never happened. And from this foolish and fictional history, he draws some foolish and fictional lessons. Here is John McCain speaking yesterday at a gathering of the American Legion:

My opponent had the chance to express such confidence in America, when he delivered a much anticipated address in Berlin. ... And in that speech, Senator Obama left an important point unclear. He suggested that the end of the Cold War proved that there was, "no challenge too great for a world that stands as one." ... As I recall the world was deeply divided during the Cold War -- between the side of freedom and the side of tyranny. The Cold War ended not because the world stood "as one," but because the great democracies came together, bound together by sustained and decisive American leadership.

To McCain, apparently, talk of unity is wimpy weakness. To McCain, strength comes from division. To McCain, America can't be strong with people from other countries, we can only be strong against them. McCain's notion of America's strength and purpose seems to be a paraphrase of President Eisenhower's notion of civil religion: "Our government makes no sense unless it is founded in a deeply felt opposition to an enemy -- and I don't care what it is."

McCain's speech is such nonsense that he can't help contradicting himself within six words. Here he is again:

... not because the world stood "as one," but because the great democracies came together ...

So, um, I guess the great democracies came together but not as one. Or something.

Anyway, since John McCain doesn't seem to remember 1989 and the end of the Cold War and the inspiring, iconic images of that world-changing year, here are some pictures for his benefit. Let's start with this one, from Prague:

A sane person might view this as a picture of the people of the former Czechoslovakia standing as one. John McCain apparently views this as a bunch of foreigners surrendering to decisive American leadership.

How about Bucharest?

Sane person sees: Romanian citizens helping to end the Cold War by standing as one.

John McCain sees: People lining up to send a Thank You card to John McCain and the American Legion for their standing firmly together (though not as one) against namby-pamby talk of unity.

Ditto for these good people of Hungary:

And for these people in Berlin:

I could go on. And on, and on. 1989 was quite a year.

All of those people in all of those pictures were risking their lives, but they took that risk because they believed that if they stood together -- "as one," even -- then no challenge was too great for them.

But John McCain thinks it's wrong to give them any credit for that. He thinks it's wrong -- un-American -- to give them any credit for their courage in coming together to claim their freedom. After all, McCain argues, America and the "great democracies" had stood for decades against the Soviet Union and that proud history mustn't be forced to share the stage with anyone else's proud history. America and its allies alone deserve credit and praise. To suggest that any of that credit or praise be shared with the people in the pictures above, McCain says, is to be "unclear" on an "important point."

I just don't get where McCain is coming from here. I mean, I recognize it, of course -- we've all seen this same attitude from bullies and abusers and other emotionally warped and soulless types who confuse love and chauvinism. But I don't get it.

How is it possible to look at pictures like the ones above and not be inspired?

More than that, how is it possible to look at those pictures and resent those people -- to view them as insufficiently grateful or as trying to steal the glory you feel is your due and yours alone?

What exactly is wrong with John McCain? Because some vital part seems to be missing. Or dead.

Comments

[Geds]

Well, these are the same people who don't quite seem to see the need to repair our international image. Because talking to people is a sign of weakness, while bombing them from high altitude is a sign of courage and, um, manliness. It's basically the myopia of LaHaye and Jenkins, just without so much of the, "God will burn the world down," fanaticism, more of a, "I will burn the world down," stupidity.

[Paul Bagosy]

"As I recall the world was deeply divided during the Cold War -- between the side of freedom and the side of tyranny"

Wait... which side were we on?

-pb

[Ursula L]

Well, now, how could McCain find those people inspiring? After all, they didn't nicely ask the US to start a war to liberate them, or wait for the superpowers to decide their fate for them. You can't enjoy a parade, if you aren't first in line!

[Geds]

On a side note, I love the way this post is accompanied by a McCain '08 sidebar ad...

[lalouve]

I vividly remember seeing, on American TV, the attempt to overthrow Yeltsin in 91, and Bush the elder stating that the world was now looking towards the US for leadership. Cut to EU heads of state discussing immediate actions, clearly not awaiting instructions from the US...mean of them. Don't they know it's only freedom if initiated by 'Freedom 'r' US'?

[Elmo]

John McCain wants to be President. That's what's wrong with him. He wants to be President representing a party which has divided the nation into the have nots and the have mores. The only way he can win is to denigrate the opposition at every opportunity and try to make people forget that he represents the party that stands for special privileges for corporations and wealthy families. It's very sad to see someone who could have been his own man sink so low. The saddest part is that it could work.

[Drake Pope]

No, I think that McCain just made a small mistake. When he heard the phrase "the world stood as one" he thought that meant that the United States and the Soviet Union were all on the same side. And, as we all know from Severely Redacted History class, that never ever ever happened. Certainly, the Americans and the Soviets didn't join forces against the Axis prior to 1945, and they didn't speak out together against Britain, France, and Israel in 1956, and they certainly never achieved anything even remotely approaching dialogue during the S.A.L.T. and S.T.A.R.T. treaty negotiations. In fact, we can proudly say that we never, ever tried to negotiate with the Soviets back then, and we definitely don't need to negotiate with the Russians now. If they give us any guff, we can invade their country. That always worked in the past!!!

What's that, Monsieur Napoleon? Don't invade Russia? Ah, what do you know? You're dead!

[patter]

Meeting one of those folks from Prague, and walking with him the route the demonstrators took, and hearing him talk about that amazing night can be a humbling experience.

I'd recommend it to Mac, but I'm afraid he'd call me names.

[Spalanzani]

"He thinks it's wrong -- un-American"

Oh, we could get into a whole big discussion on this alone.

[Robb]

When he heard the phrase "the world stood as one" he thought that meant that the United States and the Soviet Union were all on the same side

I don't think so - I think he's appealing to the spirit of American independence & go-it-alone-ism. "We don't need the rest of the world to agree with us" is another way to say it. It's basically the mentality of people that support George W Bush. That's why he's saying, but I don't know I'd go so far as to accuse him of truly believing it. McCain has been in Washingon for most of my life, but the entirety of his experience has been in legislation, not executive control. I think that difference can't be overlooked. Bush has always been "the Boss" - in his various private industry jobs (Astros Team owner, oil executive, etc), Gov. of Texas and President, there's always been an inherent aspect of "You do what I say", without any need for consultation or compromise.

For someone like McCain, who's a noted compromiser with the other side of the aisle, in addition to being part of a govt branch that is by definition collaborative, it's all the more strange that he's adopting such an attitude. Frankly, I can see why people point at this & accuse him of Rovian calculating, but I don't think so - he's smarter than Bush, but not that smart. Add me to the category of those that don't get it.

Regardless, John McCain seems to have forgotten a whole lot since he's been running for president. Let's just not forget that for much of the past decade, much of the Democratic leadership has viewed John McCain as a relative good guy within the Republicans. John Kerry & Joe Biden certainly thought so.

[alfgifu]

wrong -- un-American

I'm not sure if this is what Spalanzani is hinting at, but the use of 'un-American' as a synonym for 'wrong' (and the corollary 'American' for 'right') can come across a wee bit insulting to those of us not blessed with American passports. As does the whole 'freedom against tyranny' thing.

Russia's recent actions in Georgia don't represent anything new. They don't even represent anything unique to the past century - since the time of Peter the Great Russia, controlled by an autocrat/oligarchic clique, has repeatedly violently jostled the smaller nations around its borders and prevaricated to any more powerful nations that get upset. Can we have less of the freedom/tyranny and more of America/Russia (or if you must the-rest-of-the-world/Russia, or NATO/Russia, or something), please, Mr McCain?

White-Hat/Black-Hat is ultimately a ruinous game for both sides.

[Vermic]

I think he's appealing to the spirit of American independence & go-it-alone-ism. "We don't need the rest of the world to agree with us" is another way to say it.

McCain said, "The Cold War ended not because the world stood "as one," but because the great democracies came together, bound together by sustained and decisive American leadership." So he seems fine with teamwork, as long as it's the good ol' U.S. of A. in charge.

[Izzy]

the use of 'un-American' as a synonym for 'wrong' (and the corollary 'American' for 'right') can come across a wee bit insulting to those of us not blessed with American passports.

It comes across as downright fucking creepy to those of us with American passports who took a history class, come to think of it. Or who remember the fifties.

Sauron is no more, and his dark land of Mordor
Was destroyed without a single hint of pity.
But his spirit lives today, just the same in every way,
On the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Yay filk.

[Till]

Ah. I think there might be a misunderstanding - quite possibly on my side.
My understanding is that MacCain meant that the communist régimes were not brought down by appeasement and cooperation, but by stern opposition by the democracies. Not "standing as one", therefore, does not refer to the people rebelling against the oppressors, but to the democracies and the communist dictatures.
And I think that this is true.
Communism went to the "ashheap of history" for two reasons. First, the brave rebellion of its oppressed subjects. Second, and - to my understanding - that is what he referred to, the communists states' planned economy could not keep up with capitalism. Planned economy is highly inefficient and wasteful. In '89, the eastern bloc was, plainly and simply, bankrupt. Broke. Insolvent. Up a certain creek without a certain instrument of nautical propulsion. And that was the reason why the communists did not massacre their rebellious citizens with tanks as they did in '53, '56 and '68. This economic bankruptcy, in turn, was caused by the Western countries denial of appeasement and their denial to "stand together" with the communist countries.

On the other hand, if MacCain indeed meant that communism was brought down only by opposition of the Western states, then he is an ignorant jerk.

[Naomi]

Pictures of the fall of the Berlin Wall still bring tears to my eyes. That was such an amazing, incredible year.

There are so many lessons in the end of the Soviet empire that are important -- like, "you don't have to be a president or a general to change the world -- an electrician who works at a shipyard can change the world, too. So can a playwright/poet." And, "sometimes it's a communication error that changes the world." (The opening of the East German border may have resulted from a mistake, combined with a couple of besieged border guards who chose the humane options when they realized they would have to either open the gates or open fire.) Also, "when freedom is on the march, and you're a psychotic despot who's ruled for decades with an iron fist, you might want to emigrate sooner rather than later. Telling people 'go home, it's Christmas!' is unlikely to help."

But yeah, actually. "When the people stand as one, the world is about to change" is the big one.

[Spalanzani]

alfgifu: "I'm not sure if this is what Spalanzani is hinting at, but the use of 'un-American' as a synonym for 'wrong' (and the corollary 'American' for 'right') can come across a wee bit insulting to those of us not blessed with American passports. As does the whole 'freedom against tyranny' thing."

Yeah, that's what I meant. Although in the past, Fred has blogged about there being two meanings to "American/Un-American": descriptive and aspirational; how American actually is against what it should be. So going by that, the actions of the House Un-American Activities Committee would be American in the descriptive sense, but un-American in the aspirational sense. Going with the aspirational sense avoids the trap of saying anything the US has ever done is right, but it still seems pretty arrogant to view things like freedom/rights/fluffy kittens as being somehow inherently American.

[Alan]

I am utterly unsurprised to see McCain and his ilk bloviating over the "reawakening of the sleeping Russian bear" or whatever insipid metaphor Pat Buchanan wants to use. I have for many years now suspected that the Republicans secretly regretted the fall of communism. They cannot exist without an enemy to struggle against, even if it is an over-exaggerated one, and "Islamofascism," despite the best efforts of Republican propagandists, is a poor substitute for Ole Debbil Russia.

[Robb]

McCain indeed meant that communism was brought down only by opposition of the Western states

He just may have - remember he's now criticising Obama for being willing to meet with "rogue nations" and "collaborate" with "other countries" on international issues affecting "them". It's likely that the implicit condemnation of dove-ism and diplomacy (as opposed to Bush style shoot first, ask questions later) is exactly the undercurrent he's hoping comes across to his audience. Remember, this guy is trying to appeal to Bush's core constituency as much as possible.

[Jos]

And, "sometimes it's a communication error that changes the world." (The opening of the East German border may have resulted from a mistake, combined with a couple of besieged border guards who chose the humane options when they realized they would have to either open the gates or open fire.)

Of course, once the East-German government, that cold-hearted cabal of steel-fisted Commies, realised the extent of their little bureacratic error, they... did nothing to reverse it. The amount of control they put on it, if I recall correctly, soon became little more than a minor formality.

Those red bastards.

[Robb]

a poor substitute for Ole Debbil Russia.

You meant the Soviet Union, right? What is up with people confusing those two lately?

[Dash]

Is there any country besides the U.S. that has the notion of "un[nationality]" as in "unAmerican"? I'm fairly sure I've never heard the English talk about being "unEnglish" or the Scots about "unScottish" (despite the fact that the Scots give us the name of that wonderful "no true Scotsman" fallacy), just to pick two culturally closely related groups.

And what about the notion of "real," as in "a real American"? I think we've pretty much got the corner on that one. And it doesn't, IMO, speak well for us. Or do other countries do that as well?

The United States of America: regrettably unSwiss in so many ways.

[Dash]

it still seems pretty arrogant to view things like freedom/rights/fluffy kittens as being somehow inherently American.

Fluffy kittens are not American. Fluffy kittens are weak appeasers who are ready to hand over the keys to the litterbox to the dirty commies (or whoever we're mad at at the moment) before the first shot is fired. Real Amerkan kittens are tough, mean, squinty-eyed, short-haired, ungrammatical-talkin', heavily-r-pronouncin' gun-belted CATS who know perfectly well that all them effete foreigners want nothing more than to get their litterboxes. And you'll get their litterboxes when you pry them out of their cold, dead claws, dangit!

[Robb]

And it doesn't, IMO, speak well for us. Or do other countries do that as well?

"Of Course they Don't!" said a gallant and noble voice behind the feeble Dash. "Bwuh?" he splutted as he gazed upon America Man.
"Only the foolish question the value of American practices!" said America Man, and with a mighty [w]HUAC[k]!, punched out Dash, then went on to save the world from Terrorists.

The United States of America: regrettably unSwiss in so many ways

Just wait until the LHC fires up & devours Switzerland into a black hole, then you'll revise that statement.

; )

[damnedyankee]

John McCain wasn't able to rewrite history for five and a half years of his life. To deny him that luxury now is to impugn his honor as a former POW.

LEAVE JOHN MCCAIN ALOOOOOOOONE![/chriscrocker]

[Praline]

The Cold War ended not because the world stood "as one," but because the great democracies came together, bound together by sustained and decisive American leadership

I'm with Till: I was under the impression that the Cold War ended because the Soviet states collapsed under the weight of internal pressures. If Bush's econonmic policies continue, America could be heading the same way, but that's hardly a victory for Islam.

Is there any country besides the U.S. that has the notion of "un[nationality]" as in "unAmerican"? I'm fairly sure I've never heard the English talk about being "unEnglish" or the Scots about "unScottish" (despite the fact that the Scots give us the name of that wonderful "no true Scotsman" fallacy), just to pick two culturally closely related groups.

We used to talk about being 'unEnglish', in the American sense of 'lacking in virtue, because obviously all virtues pertain to our nationality and no other'. But it was a while ago. Back when we had an empire.

The parallel seems fairly obvious.

[Caravelle]

Is there any country besides the U.S. that has the notion of "un[nationality]" as in "unAmerican"? I'm fairly sure I've never heard the English talk about being "unEnglish" or the Scots about "unScottish" (despite the fact that the Scots give us the name of that wonderful "no true Scotsman" fallacy), just to pick two culturally closely related groups.

I can only speak for France here, but I don't think that formulation exists. The closest you get is talking about "France, the country of XXX" where XXX can be Liberty, Human Rights, whatever. I've never heard of the converse unFrench/anti-French. You do get "not French" but that's referring to the language when you're making minor grammatical quibbles.

As for "real [country of choice]", I'm pretty sure it exists everywhere xenophobes lurk, but in that case it has more ethnic than political overtones.

Just wait until the LHC fires up & devours Switzerland into a black hole, then you'll revise that statement.

Just Switzerland, are you sure ? I heard it would destroy the Earth...
On the other hand, any fallout will certainly stop at the Alps along the French border. Just like the radioactive clouds from Chernobyl. So on the western front at least we're safe !

[Praline]

Just for interest, here's an example of the 'unAmerican' equivalent; the Jack Harkaway stories - schoolboy adventure tales which began in 1871 and went on for decades due to their popularity - contain the immortal line, 'To go behind a man and hit him on the head with a cricket bat, exerting all your strength, was not English.'

To explain, this is a description of a fight between Jack and another pupil, whom he has addressed as a 'half-bred Spanish cur', and remarked 'Fellows like you require to be kept down'. They fight, Jack wins, and his frustrated opponent whaps him (choosing a pretty English weapon, you'd think); the narrative comments 'Jack Harkaway had fought a fair fight and won it in a handsome British manner. Why should he be attacked in this disgraceful manner? And by a youth who could only boast of half-English blood?'

This kind of filth has generally died out since we stopped ruling the waves, but I think it may be a while before America relinquishes its equivalent sentiments.

[lalouve]

We talk of things as unSwedish. That is a compliment. This is all very Swedish of us....

[Drake Pope]

Regardless, John McCain seems to have forgotten a whole lot since he's been running for president. Let's just not forget that for much of the past decade, much of the Democratic leadership has viewed John McCain as a relative good guy within the Republicans. John Kerry & Joe Biden certainly thought so.

I don't think that he forgot. It's all part of the dance. If he wants to win, he has to convince the far-right that he won't leave them out if he gets elected.

Back when we had an empire.

Gosh! 25 years, that was such a long time ago, wasn't it?

And what about the notion of "real," as in "a real American"? I think we've pretty much got the corner on that one. And it doesn't, IMO, speak well for us. Or do other countries do that as well?

I think all countries have a concept of what it means to be a "real" [nationality]. I'd be surprised if there was a country with no set of perceived shared values. Even in African countries, which are mostly worthless, people say things like, "real Igbo/Fulani/whatever are like this, while all you other losers are like that."

[damnedyankee]

To explain, this is a description of a fight between Jack and another pupil, whom he has addressed as a 'half-bred Spanish cur', and remarked 'Fellows like you require to be kept down'.

Honestly, I can't think of a good reason not to whack him with a cricket bat after that.

Well, there's the fact that a cricket bat might be unwieldy to me, not being used to them. Besides, baseball bats are much better for taking someone out at the knees before cracking them upside the head...

What?

[J Neo Marvin]

The Cold War ended not because the world stood "as one," but because the great democracies came together, bound together by sustained and decisive American leadership.

But...but...I thought Ronald Reagan did it all by hinself, with a wave of his mighty-yet-genial hand. What kind of un-American traitor is McCain for daring to suggest otherwise?

[Drake Pope]

But...but...I thought Ronald Reagan did it all by hinself, with a wave of his mighty-yet-genial hand. What kind of un-American traitor is McCain for daring to suggest otherwise?

The kind of traitor who has a secret black baby, that's who.

[Robb]

France, the country of XXX

Hah!
The first thing that came to my mind was this (a bit of explanation here if that doesn't make sense), and I thought "I thought they were the country of classy booze..."

[damnedyankee]

Gosh! 25 years, that was such a long time ago, wasn't it?

Wouldn't the Falklands be considered more the remnants of Empire rather than anything else?

[Ursula L]

Drake Pope wrote:

...African countries, which are mostly worthless...

Mostly worthless? In what way? That's a pretty large (and insulting) generalization to make of an entire contanent.

[France]

and I thought "I thought they were the country of classy booze..."

We keep ze good stuff for oursailves, Americain pig-dog!

[Robb]

Wouldn't the Falklands be considered more the remnants of Empire rather than anything else?

Maybe, but they're still part of the British Empire, so I don't know if that's what Drak Pope was referring to. The only British territory I can think of that's changed hands in the last 25 years is Hong Kong.

*****

We keep ze good stuff for oursailves, Americain pig-dog!

Aw hay-ell, I knew y'all was selfish!

[Drake Pope]

Mostly worthless? In what way? That's a pretty large (and insulting) generalization to make of an entire contanent.

Sorry, I should have specified. "West Africa" is mostly worthless, at least when you get to governments. You have a whole bunch of people who have almost nothing in common except for a shared colonial past who were lumped in with their ancient enemies and had random border lines drawn around them. I think I've met maybe five people who identified with their nationality before their religion and/or ethnic group, and all of them were my relatives. It might be different elsewhere in West Africa but I really, really doubt it.

Wouldn't the Falklands be considered more the remnants of Empire rather than anything else?

Good point.

We keep ze good stuff for oursailves, Americain pig-dog!

Do French people actually think that Zs are the all purpose consonant?

[Hob]

Yes, it still brings a tear to my eye to remember how Reagan stood up and said "Mr. Gorbachev, I will tear down this wall," and then he and the leaders of all the great democracies went and tore down the wall with their bare hands.

Almost as inspiring as when Reagan refused to sit down with the Russians to discuss arms control unless they agreed to all his demands before meeting. Meeting without preconditions is appeasement, which means when an appeasenik peasifies things and, well, it's bad. If you talk to someone and they say "let us do this" and you say "no" then you still lose, because everyone will be all "ha ha he talked to them! they win!"

[Hob]

Yes, it still brings a tear to my eye to remember how Reagan stood up and said "Mr. Gorbachev, I will tear down this wall," and then he and the leaders of all the great democracies went and tore down the wall with their bare hands.

Almost as inspiring as when Reagan refused to sit down with the Russians to discuss arms control unless they agreed to all his demands before meeting. Meeting without preconditions is appeasement, which means when an appeasenik peasifies things and, well, it's bad. If you talk to someone and they say "let us do this" and you say "no" then you still lose, because everyone will be all "ha ha he talked to them! they win!"

[Hob]

In fact I have so many tears in my eyes, I'm seeing double.

[Jos]

I think all countries have a concept of what it means to be a "real" [nationality]. I'd be surprised if there was a country with no set of perceived shared values.

I remember some time ago our Argentinian princess Máxima commenting that there was no such thing as 'the' Dutch nationality/personality or something along those lines.

I also remember lots of politicians getting up in arms about it and arguing that there so totally is something as 'the' Dutch nationality/personality or something along those lines.

However, I don't remember any of those politicians ever coming up with an example.

[aunursa]

Dash: Is there any country besides the U.S. that has the notion of "un[nationality]" as in "unAmerican"?

As a Jew who lives in a world where "Christian" is considered a compliment and "pharisee" an insult, I can relate.

[Dash]

Yes, it still brings a tear to my eye to remember how Reagan stood up and said "Mr. Gorbachev, I will tear down this wall," and then he and the leaders of all the great democracies went and tore down the wall with their bare hands.

Whuh? I thought Reagan waved his hand and knocked the wall down all by himself with the power of his rhetoric-fu.

[damnedyankee]

Do French people actually think that Zs are the all purpose consonant?

My extensive research into the linguistic stylings of the French Taunter suggest "yes".

[damnedyankee]

Whuh? I thought Reagan waved his hand and knocked the wall down all by himself with the power of his rhetoric-fu.

It was actually achieved via the Star Wars program, so called because it projected The Star Wars Christmas Special onto the skies over the Warsaw Pact nations. Subsequent wall destruction was spun into a bid for freedom, when it was really just thousands of now-former Reds trying to escape the musical stylings of Bea Arthur.

Happy Life Day!

[damnedyankee]

I'm styling today.

[Jenny Islander]

Apropos of what used to be considered good red-blooded literature for boys . . .

I visit Project Gutenberg daily because I love old juvenile belles lettres, but some of it not so much. I was thrilled to discover a story about two boys marooned in a remote area of my home island. Then I read it. It's all about how two plucky preteens acquit themselves nobly while trying to make their way home among dirty ignorant thieving unhelpful lazy superstitious heathens.

Of course, if you turn it around, it's the story of two unspeakably bratty boys who are shunted from person to person up and down the coast of Kodiak because they won't stop trying to commandeer people's boats, houses, food, and firearms and they refuse to behave like good guests in any way whatsoever. The worst off is a poor old alcoholic hermit who seems to be torn by his fear of what will happen to the boys if they set off on their own and an equally strong fear of what they might do to him if they keep hanging around. But he doesn't speak more than a couple of words of English, so obviously he's subhuman.

[Cowboy Diva]

Something wrong with the musical stylings of Bea Arthur?
apart from sounding like (in both intonation and range) Robert Preston or Rex Harrison, of course. There's a reason those two spoke most of their sung lines.

[hapax]

Besides, baseball bats are much better

As all REAL Americans know!

Honestly, I still get sniffly thinking about the events of 1989. I recently called up a YouTube video of Bernstein's performance of Beethoven's Ninth (where he substituted "Freiheit" for "Freude") and started bawling disgracefully, totally weirding out the children.

And there was that GE commercial -- "I feel young again!" -- that still chokes me up to think about.

It is contemptible for Mr. McCain to denigrate the bravery, faith, and heroism of millions of people that way. They were, in a very real sense, POWs for a lot longer than he was -- and who managed to rescue themselves.

Pah.