Originally Posted by ijusluvit

I think your original post fails to take into account all of the necessary aspects of what constitutes courage.

First, I do not agree with the "Greatest Generation" theory. And the real problem with it is how it is used to denigrate other generations, especially those now occupying and responsible for the planet. Comparing the present US with the country in the 1940's is truly comparing apples to oranges. What we often forget is that the decision makers of the time, including Eisenhower and Roosevelt were, at the most critical times, doing what they had no alternative but to do. Not only were we directly attacked on land and sea, but it was clear to everyone that the Axis forces had a single goal, to dominate and subjugate the Allies. There was no choice in June of 1944. Only one year later, with the invention of the atomic bomb, Harry Truman seemingly had a choice, to invade Japan or use the bomb. But today we Americans all agree he really had no choice. And, of course, since we all agree that these important decisions were also the RIGHT decisions, the idea that they are monumentally courageous seems grow larger with each passing year.

I think an even higher level of courage comes from making the right decision when there are real choices. Like Sgt. Dakota Meyer, the Marine who chose to drive repeatedly into enemy fire in Afghanistan, saving more than 20 Afghans and a dozen US comrades from almost certain death. He did this in defiance of orders from superiors. His choices were so obviously courageous that he has been awarded the Medal of Honor.

So what politician could be considered courageous? I think the best current example is President Obama. (sorry if this gives you a stomach ache, but) Obama campaigned on an platform which many saw as liberal enough to really be a CHANGE from prior ineffective leadership. He claimed he was a centrist, but made it clear that he had an ambitious agenda which he called critically necessary for America. He did not have to pursue this agenda tirelessly, but he believed each of the elements of it was the right thing to do. Every single element: health care, economic stimulus, financial regulation, consumer protection, ending war, fighting terror effectively, the entire national tax structure, equal rights within the military, equal marriage rights, jobs programs, the rebuilding of the country's infrastructure, and the balance of energy development with environmental protection, is intensely controversial. Each element has been an enormous struggle. For the mere mention of each element Obama has been vilified high and low. Much attention has been paid to the risks Obama took in his "all in" effort to get a health care package, and ordering the assault on bin Laden's compound, but continuing to pursue each one of the above has come with the real prospect of destroying his political future.

I also think the elements of the Obama platform were and still are the right things to do. They are not all done, and they are far from perfect, but what has been done is more than many Presidents have even attempted. Therefore, I applaud Obama's courage.