Statesman

I have been trying to imagine myself today, in someone else’s shoes. Can you imagine this? You are captured in North Korea with its reputation for being one of the most controlled totalitarian countries in the world. You go through the fear, anticipation and utter hopelessness of being sentenced to a criminal work camp for 12 years -- 12 years. While you are in a holding area eating rice with rocks in it once a day, suddenly you are dragged away... driven somewhere you have no idea where and no idea what is going on. You are pushed into a room and standing there is former President Bill Clinton. I doubt there is a word worthy of what those two women must have felt. Elated comes to mind but doesn’t quite do it. Euphoric? Maybe some doubt. Is this really him, or is this some nasty North Korean trick. But mostly, you would just know it is over. Instead of looking at 12 years in a labor camp you probably wouldn’t survive, you are going to go home with one of the most famous men in the world. The emotions must have been overwhelming.

And what an accomplishment for him. The man has followed Jimmy Carter along a trail to a status seldom bestowed on anyone anymore -- that of statesman. It first blossomed in the aftermath of the tsunami that devastated the islands of southeast Asia. Sent by then President W. with W.’s father, the two led the American effort there and then went on to lead a worldwide fundraising campaign for impoverished people everywhere. There is some substance to the idea Clinton even was part of the persuasion that led Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to dedicate a huge part of their fortunes to philanthropy. (The Museum of the North at the University of Alaska Fairbanks lists the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as its largest contributor,)

But back to Clinton, not only did he pull this off, he did it at no cost to the U.S. government. One of his biggest campaign contributors volunteered his own airplane and paid for the fuel for the flight to North Korea and back. (They refueled in Anchorage on the way over. --- we always love our Alaska angles).

I am not often or easily impressed, but I am impressed today. What an accomplishment. What an example to look up to. And just think how those two women felt when they walked into that room.

And, oh yeah, Justin got his truck.