.But John Kerry isn’t an average secretary of state. Leaving politics and economics aside, he has something truly special, very personal, something quite warming to the hearts if he can share that heartfelt treasure right. And that is, happiness in spite of defeat.

Non-Americans began to hear about John Kerry in 2004 when he was fiercely fighting for the presidency against the unpopular incumbent president but ultimately lost the battle by a small margin of popular votes (48.27 per cent versus Bush’s 50.73 per cent), which made the defeat really hard to swallow.. . . And he did so with such honour and grace when he uttered to crowds cheering him saying, “I wish that I could just wrap you up in my arms and embrace each and every one of you individually all across this nation” to thank them. . . The many acts of bravery on the battlefields had certainly shaped his worldview. But, more importantly and on a personal level, it was his unmistakable courage to reveal the inconvenient truth about war atrocities allegedly committed by American soldiers that shot him to national fame overnight. This introductory message would find some resonance with his Asian interlocutors who will and should boast of their own military record. . .

. . . the need to respect the decision of the voters must be loud and clear if peace and orderly daily life are to be restored, instead of manipulating the crowds. And in the process, as his case has clearly demonstrated, personal honour also got restored.
This was obvious when he handily won his fourth straight re-election to the US Senate in 2008, gathering 65 per cent of votes in Massachusetts.

As a career politician, there are few who have served with distinctions and retained as good a reputation as John Kerry has. His story shouldn’t be forgotten. All he needs to do is to begin telling it as passionately as he should as it relates to his honourable acceptance of defeat. of course the conditions aren’t the same in the US and elsewhere but what should be required everywhere is that one additional grain of courage and good character. Sometimes the greatest motivation comes from the most unlikely places because power is greatest when we don’t need it. . .

The author seems to think that Sec. Kerry needs to write about these things now, while he is Secretary of State. I want him to write a memoir, too! But, first, in his last year as SoS, he needs to devote all his time to doing what he can to save the world, not to peripheral issues; the memoir can certainly wait a year or two. And second (I don't think that the author necessarily understands this), as SoS, he actually is not allowed write publicly about political issues right now.

I hope and trust that Sec. Kerry WILL in fact write a memoir after his tour as Secretary of State is completed. And I also hope that it is very frank and rich in detail. If he lets it rip, it should be a page-turner . : )

karynnj

(59,969 posts)

2. I agree with everything you have written here

Reply to MBS (Reply #1)

Mon Feb 1, 2016, 02:52 PM

Feb 2016

Obviously, it is neither the best use of his time to write anything on this while President.

However, I would bet that those circumstances have been shared with leaders in politically unstable countries where accepting defeat is not the tradition it is here. He famously used that experience in Afghanistan while he was still in the Senate. My guess is that he may have done the same thing in many countries supporting the peaceful turnover of power.

That acceptance is balanced by his comments at Davos where he spoke out against corruption. That he chose corruption as a key element of a talk to that high profile group was itself interesting. So, he may - in a different way than this wonderful oped suggests - he likely will speak - both for integrity in elections and for leaders having the wisdom to concede when the election results are against them.

However, it is wonderful that he is spoken of as having a good reputation and that he is clearly addressed here because his good character is obvious. Not to mention, given the major accomplishments he has had as Secretary of State, he will not be seen primarily as someone who narrowly lost the Presidency. There are many Presidents who have less a legacy than the one he is building.

I hope he does write a memoir and possibly a book or even essays on foreign policy and working on climate change. I still remember that wonderful series of Fanuiel Hall speeches that could have been the platform of a 2008 run, he is incredible at taking complex issues and making them compelling and inspiring - making a listener believe that solutions can be found and they will make the world better.

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