What a new face courage puts on everything! – Emerson      

In our cynical age, let skeptics sneer: Biden jumped before he was pushed, he had no choice, he should be decried for his delay not celebrated for his guts quitting office. Avoid the temptation, friend. Warm yourself, rather, in the glow of heroism. Heroism is doing the right thing when it is hard. The chance for conspicuous heroism is offered to few and of those, most funk it. Biden did the right thing – and it was really hard. “Do the right thing,” quipped Mark Twain. “It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”

How hard this was is impossible to fathom if one’s never occupied a pinnacle of power, but we can imagine. Most of us lead negligible lives; we will be forgotten soon enough. But the President of the United States, c. 2024, makes history daily.  Whatever he does matters to multitudes. Chroniclers monitor his every motion.

Who can doubt Joe Biden believed himself a giant! His ceaseless sycophants reassured him constantly. Wasn’t it his mission, vouchsafed by the Almighty, to save civilization from the existential threat of Trump? He’d persuaded himself he had it in him to undertake this last grueling campaign. Yes, he was old, but not too old. Old age envisions feats beyond its strength – trust me, I know. He likely cursed any friends who counseled him to hang it up, Obama especially, his old boss, the boy President, for whom all came so easily! He’d show them! He’d shine in history, right up there with Washington, Lincoln, FDR, the savior of his people. He’d lived his life for this moment, he’d done a good job, and he’d see it through, see if he wouldn’t! So what if he messed up one debate. Wasn’t he still the MAN!

I was sure he’d make the right decision; many I admire were sure he wouldn’t. We superimposed on this symbol our expectations for mankind. A Romantic, I believe in heroes – not often, but in a dire moment, once in a lifetime maybe if you’re lucky. Once I acted heroically, in my own eyes: I did a right thing that was really hard. I didn’t believe I possessed such power but I did – briefly – and that memory will always hearten. Mine was a private crisis. Biden agonized with the world staring at him. He did the right thing though his whole being resisted. Bless him – and take strength from his strength. Maybe our species isn’t as hopeless as we seem.

I’d almost given up on America – and mankind. My conversation was sliding into bitter carping. Could I endure my disappointment, I wondered.

Much of America continues to appall me. The recently concluded Republican convention was Walpurgisnacht: even to glimpse it singed my soul. What in blazes was wrong with us! When did we the people curdle like milk gone sour!

Then Joe Biden did the right thing. Heroically. Heroism is as contagious as grievance and a lot more fun.

Let Biden’s heroism light a fire in each of us – to do the right thing, with all our might, to save our nation – and, as I see it, civilization itself – from a mortal threat. Let us for a moment set cynicism aside and surprise ourselves with decency.

America, to date, feels a lucky experiment. Grave crises have called forth great leaders: Washington and our Founding Fathers, Lincoln, TR, FDR. I nominate Joe Biden to that pantheon. Thank you, brave sir, for restoring hope.