Latest update May 20th, 2026 12:35 AM
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Speak no ill
According to an online article by the Washington Examiner datelined March 20, Republic Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia, has had enough with presidential attacks on dead war hero, Senator John 
McCain. The senator plans to condemn the President of the United States.
For a senator to be readying to criticize publicly–definitely unambiguously, and perhaps harshly–his president says a lot. For any senator to be compelled to take such a rare step, when it is a president from his own party, then something is terribly wrong, and possibly sacred and unforgivable lines have been violated.
It helps to provide an abbreviated context to identify the tone and an appreciation for what transpired. The chronology starts in 2017, when the departed Sen. John McCain (R-Az), did not join with fellow Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, that was in effect, compliments of former President Obama.
Last Tuesday, the incumbent American president labeled the dead senator’s opposition from 2017 as “disgraceful.” The man is dead and gone; it is not necessary, not relevant. The US president did not stop there.
From the White House on the same Tuesday, the president also said that he has “never been a fan of John McCain, and I never will be.” Sometimes anger and rancor get the better of even the best; there will forever be questions and contentions that that entire diatribe was a far cry from anything resembling what is better, wholesome, and constructive.
Moreover, what was spewed on Tuesday represented the fourth day of presidential attacks against a dead man. There is a Latin phrase that has been traced to Chilon of Sparta, which goes like this “de mortuis nil nisi bonum.” It translates roughly in English to, “of the dead speak only good.” Nothing but good.
This is what men and women of class and caliber do. Perhaps, it is the reverence for that final, awesome passage from this pale. If ordinary citizens hold themselves to such a commendable standard, then presidents must be held to a much higher one.
And this is not a run of the mill president, but the leader of the world power. How low should a leader be allowed to sink? And how low is too low? Surely, the assaults would pass neither unnoticed, nor unchallenged, nor unpunished.
Well, they didn’t. Republican Senator Isakson has indicated that he will assume that onerous task and bear that heavy burden. He will confront and castigate his president in the open. Sometimes some things just have to be done; somebody has to face the Komodo dragon and challenge it (say it).
Senator Isakson has provided an early warning as to where he stood on matters involving McCain. According to the Bulwark, Senator Jackson has already said, “America deserves better…nobody is above common decency and respect for people who risk their life for your life.”
Disrespect sets the wrong tone for kids, according to the senator. And, “Nothing is more important than the integrity of the country than those who fought and risk their lives for all…” Apparently, a public scourging it is going to be.
The point here is that leaders are held to a higher bar, they have to establish an impeccable cadence and rhythm to the national discourse, since their every word and posture are probed and scrutinized for the hidden message, ugly incitation, and descents into the gutter.
Guyana has had more than its share of inflammatory rhetoric and abusive practices by political players and leaders. Those instigate and incentivize. Better sense must prevail. Certain lines not crossed.
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