Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Strong people make a strong nation

Thursday, July 3, 2003 | 2:22 a.m.

Independence Day, July Fourth, is the time all U.S. citizens should celebrate the birth of their country. We have a great and strong country created by the American Revolution and built on the foundation provided later in the U.S. Constitution. Strength and determination has become a common goal for Americans dedicated to good government and the spread of freedom over the world.

In recent years many of us have been sidetracked into celebrating the physical strength of individuals and athletic teams. The Ironman Triathlon competition is a test of physical endurance and mental strength that can seldom be matched by Olympic medal winners. This kind of competition has degenerated into foolish toughman competitions, which have even cost the lives of some competitors. Recently it took the life of a wife and mother.

Over the years I have concluded that physical ability is but one small measurement of strength. Equally important is mental ability and several other measurements. What takes place on the battlefield is important, but so is what happens before and after the battle. Sometimes what happens in the homes and communities is even more important than the conflict of armed forces.

Last week, former Sen. Max Cleland was in Las Vegas for a speaking engagement. He lost both legs and an arm to a hand grenade near Khe San, Vietnam, 35 years ago. He has never forgotten the other Americans who fought, were wounded or died when serving in our military forces. After speaking at a conference he took time to visit with Ed and Caryl Gobel at the Gobel Lowden Veterans Center & Museum in Las Vegas. Seldom does a day pass that Cleland doesn't do something special for veterans. Many wounded soldiers from Iraq have already learned who that visitor is rolling in a wheelchair down the halls of Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Grit and determination were displayed by Cleland as he fought to live during his own long stay at Walter Reed and later return to again serve his fellow Americans. In his book "Strong At The Broken Places," Cleland wrote about his efforts to heal and regain his strength. The entire book, published in 1980, was painful but satisfying reading for anybody who has lost a limb or been seriously injured. Particularly pleasing was the following exchange:

"The therapist was quiet for a moment. 'Captain Cleland, you use it or lose it.'

" 'What do you mean?'

"'I mean that if you don't use your right arm stump, your shoulder will become frozen in place. And if you don't exercise your leg stumps, the muscles in your thighs will shrink.'

"Gritting my teeth, I pushed against his hand again and again. As I continued this exercise day after day, I realized that, amazingly enough, I was getting strong at these broken places. The muscles that were left began developing and compensating for muscles that had been lost. Slowly, ever so slowly, my body was beginning to adjust to its new shape and the new demands placed on it. Hope began to grow in me again."

Cleland went on to serve two terms in the state Senate of Georgia. He became administrator of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, served as Georgia Secretary of State and then served a term as U.S. Senator. His accomplishments have been amazing but his defeat last fall had to be more painful than any battlefield wounds. It also punched a hole in the myth of Georgian military heritage. His opponent had the audacity to attack his voting record on homeland security and place him beside the pictures of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. President Bush made five trips to Georgia to help his opponent, Saxby Chambliss, win.

Last month Cleland told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper, "The charge that somehow I was unpatriotic, when really I had helped write the law on the homeland security legislation, all those lies that occurred in the campaign -- that was a trauma that was unexpected for me.

"I thought I had done a good job for the people of Georgia. I thought they knew me as someone who had served and sacrificed for the country, as someone who was willing to defend the country 35 years ago ... but the White House and the media image makers turned me into some kind of villain."

During dinner last week, Cleland talked about the future, the American University students he teaches and the wounded soldiers he visits. He is a symbol of strength that no scurrilous words of politicians can weaken.

Our country has lost a strong and truly compassionate voice in the Senate. Fortunately, he has no intention of giving up as he goes about our country doing good. Because of special people like Max Cleland, our country will continue celebrating the Fourth of July for many generations to come.