Dear Friends,
I was touched and struck by the reports of the messages offered at the funeral this morning of former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Remembering 20 years ago, he was a powerful figure, and he was, admittedly, a powerfully polarizing figure, too. He brought out the fight in those who disagreed with his policies. But, he engendered esteem of those who agreed and who disagreed with him, because of his unquestioned patriotic, selfless devotion to America.
His gentility, grace, and strength of character stood tall above those whose natures were self-aggrandizing, agendas of competitive self-advancement, and petty politics.
These reflections find resonance in the telling story of Rebecca’s pregnancy with her twin sons, Jacob and Esau, which opens this week’s Torah portion. The text reads that “the two boys struggled within her womb,” (Genesis 19:22) and that “two peoples are in your belly.” (Genesis 25:23)
Although we live in a vastly more polarized political day, let’s not sugarcoat the strife and tensions of the Dick Cheney years. He was tough. He guided our nation to war against Afghanistan and Iraq, and hundreds of thousands of American soldiers were lost, injured, or suffered psycho-spiritual disruption. We saw many young men wearing prosthetics, and the term “IED” joined our lexicon. President George W. Bush established the Department of Homeland Security, which has morphed into our largest governmental agency, and, with Dick Cheney, he built a new support and reverence for those who served in America’s armed forces. It was a turbulent opening to the 21st century, much of it achieved with Dick Cheney’s leadership.
There were struggles of Americans as if in the womb of the next generation of America, and it was at times as if there were two Americas.
Yet, remarkably, the discord was based on policy and ideals. It never deteriorated into petulance or personal animus. Differences did not beget animosity, but stirred activism and respect. And, a large part of that was due to the behind-the-scenes power of Dick Cheney’s dignified persona. For that, we owe him measures of honorable gratitude. His legacy was, and remains, one of leading us above the struggle in the womb.
Zecher Tzaddik Livracha – May the Righteous find Blessing.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
I was touched and struck by the reports of the messages offered at the funeral this morning of former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Remembering 20 years ago, he was a powerful figure, and he was, admittedly, a powerfully polarizing figure, too. He brought out the fight in those who disagreed with his policies. But, he engendered esteem of those who agreed and who disagreed with him, because of his unquestioned patriotic, selfless devotion to America.
His gentility, grace, and strength of character stood tall above those whose natures were self-aggrandizing, agendas of competitive self-advancement, and petty politics.
These reflections find resonance in the telling story of Rebecca’s pregnancy with her twin sons, Jacob and Esau, which opens this week’s Torah portion. The text reads that “the two boys struggled within her womb,” (Genesis 19:22) and that “two peoples are in your belly.” (Genesis 25:23)
Although we live in a vastly more polarized political day, let’s not sugarcoat the strife and tensions of the Dick Cheney years. He was tough. He guided our nation to war against Afghanistan and Iraq, and hundreds of thousands of American soldiers were lost, injured, or suffered psycho-spiritual disruption. We saw many young men wearing prosthetics, and the term “IED” joined our lexicon. President George W. Bush established the Department of Homeland Security, which has morphed into our largest governmental agency, and, with Dick Cheney, he built a new support and reverence for those who served in America’s armed forces. It was a turbulent opening to the 21st century, much of it achieved with Dick Cheney’s leadership.
There were struggles of Americans as if in the womb of the next generation of America, and it was at times as if there were two Americas.
Yet, remarkably, the discord was based on policy and ideals. It never deteriorated into petulance or personal animus. Differences did not beget animosity, but stirred activism and respect. And, a large part of that was due to the behind-the-scenes power of Dick Cheney’s dignified persona. For that, we owe him measures of honorable gratitude. His legacy was, and remains, one of leading us above the struggle in the womb.
Zecher Tzaddik Livracha – May the Righteous find Blessing.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
