When President John F. Kennedy was a United States senator, he wrote about political courage in the face of outside pressures. The publication was called “Profiles in Courage.”
I’m most certain that if Jack Kennedy were alive today he would include former Sen. Joseph Lieberman as a profile in courage. Watching the outrageous conduct of our United States House of Representatives and United State Senate today makes us wish that Joe Lieberman was back there looking out for the interests of the American people.
President Kennedy said that “… stories of past courage can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration; but they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul.”
Political leaders mourn Connecticut’s Joseph Lieberman. ‘May he rest in peace’
Joseph Lieberman served this state and this nation for more than 40 years of public service. Senator Lieberman was one of the most progressive Democrats who has ever served in public office. Lieberman exemplifies what Americans demanded in the leadership of this country, the ability to compromise, to reach across the political aisle and bring about proven results and unity. Lieberman’s values and political courage is a model for future leaders of this nation.
I have been a firefighter, fire officer and union leader and knew Lieberman those nearly 50 years. On Sept. 11, 2001 I was a fire chief in New Haven County. On Friday of that tragic week I traveled to New York for the funeral wake for FDNY Fire Chief Peter Ganci. Chief Ganci was killed at the command post during the World Trade Center collapse along with 342 other brave firefighters and fire officers.
That period in our history was a dangerous and unpredictable time and each of us felt that we wanted to do more to bring unity to our nation under attack. At Ground Zero that day we all got a boost in our morale as President George Bush and Joe Lieberman stood shoulder to shoulder and vowed to bring the terrorists to justice and showed us a solidarity among this nation’s top leadership, regardless of political affiliation, at a time when we badly needed a unified country.
Despite the fact that only a few months earlier Lieberman won the popular vote for the office of vice president of the United States, the senator showed his true leadership qualities by putting aside any political differences and vowed to ensure that nothing like this ever happens to us again. His contributions to the American people during and after this time are many.
Lieberman remained a leader in protecting the American people from terrorism and natural disasters in his strong advocacy and leadership in Homeland Security and response to disasters. The courage to protect our homeland in 2006 resulted in Lieberman being abandoned by his party as a result of actions by liberal Democrats.
He could have taken the easy route and easily been endorsed by his party; but he would not abandon his stand for a strong America and its defense. Lieberman did not back down and ran as an Independent Democrat. He drew the overwhelming support of many moderate and progressive Democrats, me included, but more interesting was his support from independent, unaffiliated, voters and moderate Republicans.
We see this type of unity as lacking among politicians today. We see it at the local and national level where many of our elected leaders can’t work together. Building bridges and reaching across the political aisle to unify this country is what Lieberman was all about for nearly 50 years.
Standing tall, against all odds, Lieberman has been a true Profile in Courage for all Americans. With his sad passing and as he heads into his after-life adventure I would like to speak for many Americans and say “Thank You Joe,” Thank you for being there for us and a grateful nation.
Peter Buonome is a retired fire chief, Connecticut Fire Commission secretary, vice president, Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association. and adjunct college professor.
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