As I watched some snippets of John McCain’s funeral on Saturday, I was struck by some of the tributes paid to Senator McCain from his daughter to several well known politicians including two former US presidents, George Bush and Barack Obama. Alongside Bush and Obama who competed against McCain for the Republican nomination and the US presidency respectively, Joe Lieberman and Henry Kissinger also spoke.  During all of their speeches, they all  commented on McCain’s character, how he could be a rival yet a good friend, how he was so open to different viewpoints and opinions and understood that though two people could stand on different sides of an issue or a philosophy, they could still be on the same team. 

These platitudes spoke volumes of the character of John McCain but to me, it also spoke volumes about our society today. 

Should McCain be applauded for those attributes?  Absolutely but why is it that those things that made him a great man are so rare?  Why aren’t we all more tolerant and accepting of each other and our differences?  Why is it surprising that a Republican and a Democrat (or any opposing groups) can be friends like McCain was with Lieberman, a Democratic senator?  What are we teaching our children if they are only seeing people associate with others like them in terms of race, ideology, religion?  How is that teaching tolerance and acceptance?  The bottom line is that it isn’t.    

Shades readers, difference is a good thing.  Differences in outlook, experiences, opinions, beliefs – they all broaden our own thoughts and can educate us on what is valuable to others.  In finding out about other people and how we are different from them, we may actually find out that we are more alike than we realize.   

So the next time you see someone who seems different from you standing in line in front of you at the supermarket, strike up a conversation.  You may be surprised at what you find out.  They might be surprised as well. 

We thank John McCain for setting an example that we should all follow.  May he rest in peace.