"God is not going to judge
us by if we win or lose, but by how hard we try." These are
the words of a hero. They define heroism. These words formed the basis of the
life of Col. John G. Schmitz, a true hero of our times. Heroes are not born heroes, they become
heroes, and it takes effort, courage, and most of all, conviction. A hero
stands up in times of adversity against all odds, not because he can, nor for
publicity’s sake, but because he believes, without a doubt, in the truth of his
cause. A hero never backs down when the fighting starts, but instead he rises
all the stronger.
Such was the life of John Schmitz, who died 12 years ago
today. John had a strong sense of patriotism and a desire for valor from a
young age and joined the Marine Corps in his early 20’s, eventually rising to
the position of Colonel. Though he never fought in a military war, another
battleground lay in store for him, the political arena.
Following his military years, Schmitz became a State Senator
of California, U.S. Congressman, and presidential candidate. His strong unwavering
convictions along with his humor and wit, earned him immediate recognition and
respect by both friends and enemies. His
concern as a politician was not so much to please the people and cater to their
every whim, but rather to stand by his principles, unconditionally.
While in Congress, he introduced the first Human Life
Amendment, six months before the passing of Roe v. Wade. He believed in the
sanctity of human life and sought every means of protecting it in his state of
life, no matter what the odds. It was a time such as this when a friend asked
him: “John, why do you keep pushing for something when you know it has no
chance of success?” To this he responded with the above opening line which
defined his outlook on life and inspired his actions. He believed in America
and chose to do all he could on his part in the life he was given to preserve
his country.
As a presidential candidate in 1972 for the American Party,
he stood by this simple platform: “(1) in foreign
affairs, we should always treat our friends better than our enemies; (2) never
go to war unless you plan on winning; and (3) domestically, those who work
ought to live better than those who won't.” This garnered
him 1.1 million votes in 32 states. His heroism was not found in victory, but
in his strong convictions and unwavering efforts to preserve them.
His perseverance and courage make someone like John Schmitz a role-model
for our times. No human is perfect and every hero has weaknesses. But what separates
the men from the boys, the heroic from the ordinary, is standing strong, despite
these failings. John Schmitz was a man, just like the rest of us, but he chose
to stand his ground against the current in his own life, which happened to be
politics.
Each of us is also given a mission, be it politics, education, culture,
or what have you. We are called to stand strong and hold our ground, not for
the sake of the outcome, but because we firmly believe in what we stand for, in
the Truth. This is how heroes are made, and John Schmitz is a prime example of
such a man. He wrote a book based on his political experiences entitled:
Stranger in the Arena: the Anatomy of an Amoral Decade 1964-1974. Following his
legacy, we are all called to be strangers in our own arenas of life.
