In our culture, the term ‘yielding hero’ may sound like a contradiction. Heroes are meant to be forceful benders of Fate to their will, often indifferent to any ethical nuance or collateral harm they cause pursuing their glorious objectives. The very opposite of the passivity of ‘yielding.’

But in Mr. Biden’s case it is no contradiction. In recusing his candidacy for re-election, he has, for the sake of our nation’s well-being, yielded his most cherished personal ambition. Instead of gambling with America’s essence as a great experiment in freedom, he has now proven his love for her and her mission, beyond a shadow of a doubt.

As I posted on Independence Day, there is often nothing heroic about stubbornly pursuing a goal that has become impossible, counter-productive or even harmful. As some politicians have been known to do, apparently feeling that causing civic uproar is preferable to admitting defeat – as any mature, dignified adult, capable of caring about something more than his own fragile ego, would do.

So to suitably praise Biden’s honor and courage, I offer the accompanying music by Handel (of ‘Messiah’), ‘See, the Conquering Hero Comes.’ This version is instrumental, but the original lyrics refer to the triumph of Judas Maccabeus, a Jewish leader who led armed resistance against Greeks trying to repress the Hebrew faith.

This piece has long been used in tribute to those who have performed near super-human feats. Especially for ‘conquerors’ like Napoleon, Wellington, Grant, or Zhukov; people whose victories changed, or saved the world (though usually also making hordes of widows and orphans in the process). But it is occasionally deployed for others who perform truly epic, consequential acts, so I consider it a worthy tribute for what Mr. Biden has recently done.

If all that sounds grandiose, it is because this work is mainly played in the very grandest of contexts. That must surely include championing America as ‘a great experiment in freedom’ rather than as a bastion of ossified social privilege, with a phony self-image of virtuous equality maintained by self-deception and coercion.

So now I submit it with a title adjusted for Mr. Biden, truly a ‘yielding hero.’ He is likely too modest not to feel embarrassed at an accolade like this, but his deeds and devotion justify it. For anyone, especially one with the self-confidence and vast abilities to properly serve as U.S. President, setting aside one’s own vanity for a greater purpose is absolutely an act of Self-effacing courage that warrants admiration, and even awe. His feat may rescue our democracy from many who care about nobody’s freedom or well-being but their own, and thus it deserves to become legendary. Few would ever be called on to make so great an offering-up; fewer still would rise to the challenge.

Biden’s predecessor, unable to grasp or accept that the Presidency was not only, or mainly, about him, acted as if he saw the office largely in terms of personal advantage and self-validation. For instance: He was known to parade state secrets to foreign officials, bragging ‘I have great intel[ligence]!’ In reality, he was proving that, no matter how much ‘intel’ the CIA, NSA, etc. gave him, he lacked the brains for the most intricately sensitive job in the world. He was inexcusably obtuse about possibly putting espionage methods, output and the lives of human assets at risk by exposing them. This is but one stark example, among a great many, of how utterly unfit and dangerously out of his depth that person was.

(What must those sophisticated foreign visitors have thought of us, for electing someone so childishly fixated on flaunting his own status?)

Mr. Biden’s career has long demonstrated that he would never behave, nor think, that way. Now his withdrawal has affirmed this, showing unequivocally that he realizes there are things – like not compromising our significant progress towards recognizing the worth and autonomy of all our fellow citizens – greater than himself. That is something no Narcissist could do; and might well congratulate their own ‘character’ for being unwilling to do.

One might reasonably assume that no one could attain the Presidency without understanding that putting the nation first is one of the role’s sacrosanct duties, and being willing to act accordingly. Shockingly, recent history has shown that assumption cannot be taken for granted.

But in Joe Biden, faithfulness to those principles is manifest, and concrete. So countless thanks to him for displaying sound judgment, and a Patriotism pure and profound enough to put the peace and well-being of our Republic and her people before everything, including his own historical legacy.

Doing so may be the greatest service he ever renders his country, and that’s saying a great deal, given the COVID chaos he inherited, and how much his political skills subdued its consequences. To say nothing of sincerely upholding his oath to ‘preserve, protect and defend the Constitution,’ rather than treating it as a nuisance-obstacle to his personal affirmation.

Bravo, Joe; may history remember and esteem you as one who not only cherishes, but truly, deeply, comprehends America. And the daunting standards to which she should hold herself.

And as what an authentic ‘Winner,’ looks like; by yielding, rather than vaingloriously persisting.