A phalanx of gray-haired, Martin Luther King emulators could stare down injustice in nonviolent resistance. The willingness to run risks is a kind of wealth. George Bush sensed this and, after a life devoted to family and service, he spent part of his portion on a personal quest. His choice, and his rejoicing, remind us that there are real people buried somewhere inside our politicians. That's easy to forget as poor Al Gore sweats over whether a champagne toast in China will come back to haunt him in attack ads.
Nothing costs our leaders so much of their humanity as fear of falling.
Through the degrading alchemy of modern politics, Bush's solo will soon be transformed into Republican kitsch, recycled on a giant wall of multiscreen videos at a national convention. People will cite his vitality as proof that seniors still have much to contribute. For now, though, imagine Bush the instant he pulled the cord and held his breath. You can rise pretty far just by falling. Inc. All rights reserved.