Tributes Poured in Following Passing of John McCain
World leaders around the world paid tribute to US Senator John McCain who died of brain cancer at the age of 81.
McCain was a naval aviator, prisoner of war, conservative statesman, and presidential candidate.
Tributes came in for the Republican from Arizona for his legacies on democracy and his earnest courage as a war hero.
US President Donald Trump who had strained relations with the former war veteran sent his deepest sympathies and respect to the senator’s family on Twitter. Both Trump and McCain are known for their differences in political ideology.
Former President Barack Obama who was the senator’s main contender in the 2008 presidential election also praised the senator for his integrity and high ideals for the American people.
“Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did,” said former President Barack Obama. “But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John’s best, he showed us what that means.”
Senator McCain died on Saturday after a yearlong battle with brain cancer.
Tributes From Germany, UK and France
World leaders also offered tributes to Senator John McCain. These are their statements:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “John McCain was guided by the firm conviction that the value of all political work could be found in serving freedom, democracy and the rule of law. His death is a loss for all who share that conviction.”
British Prime Minister Theresa May said, “John McCain was a great statesman, who embodied the idea of service over self. It was an honour to call him a friend of the UK. My deepest sympathies go to his family, and the American people.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said, “John McCain was a true American hero. He devoted his entire life to his country. His voice will be missed. Our respectful thoughts go to his beloved ones.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, “Senator John McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions. Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing.”
The Life and Works of Senator John McCain
John McCain was considered by many a true American war hero. He prided himself on being prominently called a “maverick.”
He was a pilot in the US navy in 1963. He survived five years as prisoner war after his plane was shot down in Vietnam. He served the army for almost 20 years.
He began his political career when he was elected senator of Arizona in 1987. He has been the state’s senator over a span of three decades.
One of the senator’s notable character elements was his strong defiance of some of Trump’s policies. He voted against Donald Trump’s repeal of Obamacare. In addition, even as a conservative, McCain has been known to defy some ideals of the Republican Party.
McCain was still unstoppable in the political arena, however his diagnosis of a deadly brain cancer last year forced him to temporarily leave his office. Known for his courage and handled difficulty with grace, Senator McCain succumbed to cancer on August 26.
Not everyone was positive, though. Anti-globalists and former military people did not like McCain, and let their thoughts be known in social media and in blog posts. They called him a warmonger and worse, for his inaction for soldiers left behind in VietNam and for the USS Forrestal incident. McCain also infamously sang a rhyme “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran,” urging the U.S. to start another war in the Middle East. McCain also fraternized with ISIS and al-Qaeda terrorists and had his photo taken with them.
