I might be inviting trouble with this, opening up nastiness, if anyone bothers to read it.

The word hero is one that lends itself to a very loose interpretation in our times. It is something that very emotionally charged quite often. One would very likely describe as hero someone who has died in 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq to their parents as a way consolation. It is because of this kind of usage that it mostly rings hollow in my ears, if it ever did ring with the singularity of a bell.

When I have heard at a eulogy that "He was a good man", something hits inside of me. It is as if hearing it plainly spoken, that there is simply no more fitting adjectives, and it resonates deeply.

Not to denigrate the man, but I do not believe that John McCain is a hero, due to his POW experience or otherwise. I do not believe that military service is inherently noble either, and that is not to say that it must be considered the polar opposite either.

Those who fight and die are not fighting for our freedom either, nor have they in any wars in my lifetime. Those fights are in our streets, and in our courts. Admitting this in no way cheapens the sacrifices on the part of military personnel.

I think that we need to carefully analyze these things that have been the root from which much political debate in this country has been centered. By doing so I believe we can construct new frames that not just counter the current ones, but change the debate at an intellectual level and appeal just as strong emotionally to the electorate at large.

We need to quickly clear the fog from the myth of John McCain so everyone can see the man John McCain. I for one do not believe that he is a good man.