In my personal opinion of political courage, I believe it is doing what one feels is right besides what opinions or desires other might have. I believe my definition of political courage is similar to Kennedy's in that political courage comes from within, not from the wants of others. Kennedy feels when one is faced with an important decision; one must look beyond public disapproval and look inside to make the correct decision. In Kennedy's book he says some (Senators) demonstrated courage through their unyielding devotion to absolute principal. One person who did this was Edmund Ross. Edmund Ross was the deciding vote in the impeachment trial of President Johnson. Facing pressures from his own political party and the state he represented to impeach Johnson, Ross voted against the impeachment. Ross felt that if the president were impeached, it would show that our country does not have faith in the

This is a difficult question to answer because not every decision takes and act of courage. On simple laws that are not going to affect the daily lives of the people, I do believe that senators should just practice sound judgment. On matters that are going to affect the nation as a whole, I do believe that some senators should stand up and express what they believe in. Issues that require one to act out with political courage comes when the security of the nation is in jeopardy. I feel this because this is an issue that affects the nation as a whole.

If one applies political courage to the Senate today, it would have a different meaning that what it held for those in Profiles in Courage. In my opinion, what would define political courage today is looking out for the best interest of the nation rather than that of the state. It seems that too many congressmen care about being re-elected, rather than making improvements in their own government. Even though this is just my opinion, there are not too many senators who go above and beyond of the call of duty.

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