John McCain: an American hero is laid to rest

[Norman Teigen]

Senator McCain served his country in life and in death.  Watching the funeral proceedings with great interest. How sad that POTUS disrespected this hero.

[Jeff-MN]

A hour into the funeral, there was a brief reading as the casket was processed into the church. Other than that, nothing particularly Christian in this funeral.

[Eileen Smith]

Senator McCain served his country in life and in death.  Watching the funeral proceedings with great interest. How sad that POTUS disrespected this hero.

Well... yes and no.  The remarks of Trump as a candidate were disrespectful, so much so that disrespectful seems too tame a word.  Their battles between these men after Trump was elected were disrespectful in that Trump tends to battle as a bratty child utilizing name calling rather than facts.  But I am deeply disappointed in John McCain's legacy which, in this case, is holding a grudge.  Over the past few days I've read much of John McCain's faith and as I type this I'm watching his funeral, including his daughter's political address eulogy.   Some of her remarks were very out of place for such an event better suited to The View. 

McCain chose to follow protocol in many ways in his funeral and to not invite the president of the US is simply wrong.   One may not like the man, many don't -- he makes it awfully hard to -- but he is the president.  I recall a meeting in a church with conflict between congregation and pastor and a synod representative said, "You don't have to like him, you need to respect the office of pastor."  That holds here.  As well to not invite Sarah Palin was also a miss-step in planning.  This funeral is a political event as much as it is a religious rite.

As a war hero, a public servant, a Christian, all the attributes that have been ascribed to him over the last few days he could have used his death for healing by a simple invitation.   Rachel Maddow opined that Trump should have used this time to heal the nation.  I would hope we can agree that there is not a word that Trump could have said or done that would ever be considered healing, if only because it's Trump.  The controversy of the flag had him following protocol - a senator has a flag lowered on the day of death and the day after.  It is sad for the country that he chose not to plan his memorial as a time of healing but even more so for McCain taking a grudge to his grave.  A man who set so many good examples of living in how he lived his life set a bad example at the end.  For what greater legacy does one leave than a life lived as a child of God and as children of God we forgive.

This is not a defense of Trump but rather suggesting that we don't need to follow in Trump's footsteps. 

[Norman Teigen]

America was always great.

[Donald_Kirchner]

Well stated, Ms. Smith. MccCain's daughter''s comments truly are sad. She has stated that she will not forgive President Trump, so, unfortunately, it is not surprising. May she find healing and peace.

So, Mr. Teigen, you use the death of an American hero to take a swipe at the President? And then follow it up with yet another? What is with you libs?

Want to use Aretha Frankin's funeral to take a cheap shot?  Join Michael Eric Dyson, Georgetown University professor:

"You lugubrious leech, you dopey doppelgänger of deceit and deviance, you lethal liar, you dimwitted dictator, you foolish fascist."

All while in a church with "ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM" displayed before him.

I watch and read in amazement as those who called Senator McCain a warmonger and worse during his life now "lovingly" embrace him as their orwn for the purpose of taking shots at the President. I'm beginning to think that Trump Derangement Syndrome really does exist.   

[James_Gale]

I never understand why or how a Christian funeral service could include so many speeches--many by non-Christians--focusing on the person who has died and mostly ignoring the Christian understanding of life, death, the saving grace of Christ, and the glorious promise of the world to come.  If I were a pastor, I would do all I could to keep eulogies out of funeral services and reserved for some other time.


Ms. McCain's remarks struck me as particularly out of place at a funeral.  I am sad that as she mourns the loss of her father, she seems not so much sad as she is filled to overflowing with bitterness toward those she believes have wronged her father. 

[Matt Staneck]

A man who forgave his captors in Vietnam is not holding a grudge against the current president. Anyone want to float a guess as to why he also wasn't at Barbara Bush's funeral? Maybe the issue is President Trump and not the deceased nor their families.

M. Staneck

[Donald_Kirchner]

A man who forgave his captors in Vietnam is not holding a grudge against the current president. Anyone want to float a guess as to why he also wasn't at Barbara Bush's funeral? Maybe the issue is President Trump and not the deceased nor their families.

M. Staneck

I thought that I recently read that, in his book, John McCain stated that he was unable to forgive his captors. [More specifically, "I still bear them ill will, not because of what they did to me, but because of what they did to some of my friends," McCain said. As to your statement about not holding a grudge against the President, perhaps you're writing in a Stoffregen manner, that yes, McCain IS not holding a grudge since he's dead.   ]

As for your implication about Barbara Bush's funeral, did not the White House give a valid reason? Perhaps the issue is about those who preach best construction except with the President show the issue is about them.

[Matt Staneck]

Perhaps the issue is about those who preach best construction except with the President show the issue is about them.

I continue to marvel at conservative water carriers for a man who is exactly who he has always been - no matter the office he happens to currently hold.

M. Staneck

[gan ainm]

A man who forgave his captors in Vietnam is not holding a grudge against the current president. Anyone want to float a guess as to why he also wasn't at Barbara Bush's funeral? Maybe the issue is President Trump and not the deceased nor their families.

M. Staneck

I thought that I recently read that, in his book, John McCain stated that he was unable to forgive his captors. [I must have misread. Just read that he did. Perhaps it was his daughter I was thinking of. I am wrong.]

As for your implication about Barbara Bush's funeral, did not the White House give a valid reason? Perhaps the issue is about those who preach best construction except with the President show the issue is about them.

That is one of the most insightful statements I've read for a very long time.  Thank you. 

[Donald_Kirchner]

Perhaps the issue is about those who preach best construction except with the President show the issue is about them.

I continue to marvel at conservative water carriers for a man who is exactly who he has always been - no matter the office he happens to currently hold.

M. Staneck

Yup, the Syndrome is real.   

[Eileen Smith]

Perhaps the issue is about those who preach best construction except with the President show the issue is about them.

I continue to marvel at conservative water carriers for a man who is exactly who he has always been - no matter the office he happens to currently hold.

M. Staneck

That seems a bit strong.  My post suggested that in a Christian funeral such as this, carefully choreographed by the deceased and including many political figures both current and retired it would have spoken volumes about forgiveness - about grace - if he had made provision for the president of the country -- not for the man, for the office.  It seemed, and perhaps I'm wrong, that he was making a final statement - and it wasn't a healthy one.    As to Barbara Bush's funeral the only statement out of Trump's office was that he wasn't attending out of deference to the Bush family (given the animosity of the campaign, perhaps) and due to the disruption that would be caused by security.  Was he specifically asked not to attend?  We don't know for the Bush family tends to be respectful of the office (even if they can't respect the man) to publicly state whether or not he was invited so we will never know.

I have said repeatedly on this Forum that there is little good that one can say about Trump.  I have, obviously, never endured the suffering that McCain endured thus don't know how deep a wound it is when one's suffering is trivialized as we saw in the election campaign,  and yet there are some people I need to pray for forgiveness more often than I care to - for I believe it is tragic to live one's life in bitterness and to hold a grudge to one's death - even to the point of dictating actions after death. 

This isn't a political post, it is not in defense of Trump, Democrats, or Republicans - simply an opinion.   

We are at the point in the funeral where the mourners pray the Lord's Prayer... forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Sometimes there's a simplicity of faith that can't be ignored. 

[Marshall_Hahn]

Actually John McCain did Trump a favor by saying he was not to be invited to his funeral.  Otherwise no matter what Trump had done he would have been excoriated - if he attended, he would have been accused of being a hypocrite.  If he had stayed away, he would have been accused of being unfeeling and petty.  It was a generous move on McCain's part to leave instructions that he not be invited.

Marshall Hahn

[Harvey_Mozolak]

Since no Lutherans die who are really famous... I guess the only church that we can trust to bring out the Gospel in any extensive manner in large public/civic funerals are Roman Catholics.  Thanks be to God.  And guess what... it is the Liturgy largely that carries the tune.  I was saddened that all Bible readings this week (few there be) were reduced to about two verses. 

[Harvey_Mozolak]

my other thought was... and you have to know I hate patriotic songs and anthems... there are only about six (maybe I am being generous)... don't even those who demand and love them, get a bit tired of them... oh, well, maybe it is like my not getting tired of the Kyrie, Greater Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei.  Best re-construction.