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Retired Admiral William McRaven, who served 37 years in the military — including command of U.S. Special Operations and leadership of the mission that ended Osama bin Laden’s threat — was asked to reflect on honor and America.
McRaven said he has seen honor in every corner of the world: an Iraqi judge who would not be cowed by al-Qaeda, an Afghan father who stood up to the Taliban. To him, honor is the willingness to do the right thing even when it is difficult. That resolve, he added, is what makes humanity worthwhile.
In the American context, honor means defending the principles woven into the nation’s character: liberty, equality, individual rights, the rule of law, and freedom of religion. U.S. military officers swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, and McRaven argues that true honor requires acting in its defense — even when doing so risks one’s career. Choosing what is right in difficult moments, he said, ultimately places you on the right side of history.
I’m Lesley Stahl. We’ll be back next week with another edition of 60 Minutes.