Profiles In Courage

I’ve had the opportunity over the last several weeks to read Profiles In Courage by John F. Kennedy.  In the book he profiles eight U.S. Senators who made courageous decisions.  Each ones was faced with and made a difficult decision that at the time was unpopular.  In each case they suffered politically for the decision they made and in some cases they suffered deep personal loss.  History has shown they were on the right side of the issues they struggled with… but at the time they were vilified.

As I look at current situations in Washington D.C. and Lansing I wonder if the type of courage displayed in the book is absent, or will history be the judge.

John F. Kennedy wrote,

A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or reward the quality in its chosen leaders today – and in fact we have forgotten.

The book was a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1957. It’s worth the time if you haven’t read it yet, especially if you like U.S. History.